The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-10

And Why She Did Not Write Over Her
own Name of Mary Anne Evans.

English and American Gazette.
There has been only one great woman
novelist in English literature-George Eliot.
That was not her real name Her real name
was Mary Anne Evans, but she knew
that no publisher would risk publishing a
book. were ii by an angel direct from heaven,
with such q name as Mary Anne on
the title page, she changed it, and, by
taking a mans name and writing with a
Womans knowledge of women, she caused
great controversy as to her identity. The
recent issue of the Queen, were Miss
Evans's first publishers. They were very
kind, he says, or seems to think. They pat
ted her the back. They perceived
that She had talent and told her that she
was worthy of the honors of print, and
pay" George Eliot 1t should be added, did
her publishers a little honor, too, and made
them little money-a few score thousand
pounds.
The work she commenced with was
Scenes from Clerical Life" written when
she was living with Mr. Lewes Mr.. Mol
10y tells how the book was made:
Returning from Germany, Mr.. and Mrs
LeWes settled in London with the intention
of continuing their work as journalists AID
magazine writer's. But one happy. day
Lewes said to her, My dear. / think you
could write capital story. The sugges-
ton took root in her mind but for time
she said nothing of its development. When
some weeks later Lewes was about to dress
for dinner party, she remarked: i won't
go out this evening, and when you
come in don't disturb me. / shall be very
busy. That night the greater part of her
first story in the Scenes of Clerical Life
called The Sad Fortunes of the Rev. Amos
Barton was written.
ION the tale being shown Lewes his pride
and delight were great, and he Immediately
sent it to John BlackWoOd, to whose maya
zine he was a contributor, stating the tale
was the work of a friend who desired to be
known George Eliot and that it was one
of series: This was in the autumn OF
1856 Mr.. Blackwood approved Of the story,
bur being eager to assure himself that
those which were to follow had equal merit.
ne asked to them before committing
nimself to decision"
Mr.. MOlloy recountS an interesting impos-
ture connected with the publication of
Adam Bede''
I'm the spring Of 1858 the opening chap
ters of George Eliot's first novel, Adam
Bede,' were in the hands of the publisher
who. communicating with Lewes, says: /
write this note to allay all anxiety on the
part of George Eliot as to my appreciation
of the merits of this most promising open
ing of a picture of life. In spite of all the
injunctions I began Adam Bede' in the rail-
way and felt very savage when the waning
light stopped me as we neared the Scottish
border On the publication of this great
work curiosity was more rife than ever re-
garding the author Lord Lytton had al
the name of George Eliot, as had Also
strange to say Professor Owen from some
fancied similarity between his handwriting
and that o. the manuscript of George Eliot
But when excitement was at its highest
news came from Coventry that the author
Of Adam Bede' was resident in that town
named Joseph Liggens. This individual had
been educated at Cambridge. had run
through a fortune, was familiar with the
scenes described in George Eliot's books and
was supposed to be a man of talent: No
doubt was left in the minds of the inhabi-
tants of Coventry regarding the author or
Adam Bede' Mr. Liggens visited by
two dissenting clergymen bent on gaining
an admission from him of his greatness
When pointedy asked If he did not write
Adam Bede' he replied, If / didn't the
devil did, He Immediately became an OBJ
ject of interest. and invitations to dinner
poured in on him; he was poor and sugges-
tons were made regarding a testimonial to
relieve genius in distress. clergyman wrote
to the Times giving the name of Liggens to
the world as the writer who had most mod
estly screened himself under the nom Gle
plume of George Eliot. The latter then
wrote to deny the claims made on behalf of
Mr.. Liggens, who. it may be stated, subse-
quenty died in the workhouse- One day Mr.
Blackwood was invited by Lewes to dinner
to meet the author. and the secret was out.