The Marriage Question

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An exceptional new biography explores how George Eliot grappled with the concept of marriage in both her art and life. In her mid-thirties, Marian Evans became George Eliot, a celebrated author after 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, where they lived together for twenty-four years. Although they could not legally marry, Eliot embraced the experience of partnership, asking to be called 'Mrs Lewes' and dedicating her novels to her 'Husband.' This relationship, which scandalized her contemporaries, allowed her to grow immensely, as she experienced the duality of living both inside and outside the institution of marriage. In this biography, Clare Carlisle reveals Eliot as not only a remarkable artist but also a profound philosopher who examines the complexities of shared life. Through the ambitious narratives and intricate marriage plots in her novels, we witness Eliot's exploration of desire, sacrifice, motherhood, creativity, trust, disillusion, destiny, and chance. Carlisle's insightful work invites readers to reconsider how marriage questions evolve and resonate, joining Eliot in her quest to reconcile thought and emotion.