The Marriage Question: George Eliot´s Double Life

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A Times, Telegraph, TLS, and Prospect Book of the Year, this exceptional biography delves into George Eliot's complex relationship with marriage, both in her art and personal life. In her mid-thirties, Marian Evans reinvented herself as George Eliot, quickly gaining acclaim with her debut novel. During this transformative period, she found her life partner, George Lewes, a married man with three children. Their unconventional relationship began with an 'elopement' to Berlin in 1854, leading to a 24-year partnership where Eliot embraced the title 'Mrs. Lewes' and dedicated her novels to her 'Husband.' Although they could not legally marry, she felt she had entered the 'great experience' of marriage, describing it as a 'double life' that enriched her emotional and intellectual life. This relationship, which scandalized her contemporaries, allowed Eliot to explore the intricacies of marriage from both inside and outside its conventional boundaries. Clare Carlisle reveals Eliot as not only a remarkable artist but also a profound philosopher, examining the complexities of shared life through her novels. By revisiting Eliot's themes of desire, sacrifice, and creativity, this biography illuminates how her exploration of marriage evolved, reflecting her struggle to reconcile thought and feeling.