Adam Bede is George Eliot's ( Mary Ann Evans), first novel published in 1859. The story is laid in a village Hayslope. There are youthful and lively characters, in a quest of true love. Adam Bede is a young carpenter lives in this village. He is an honest and hardworking man so, that his master Jonathan Burger choose him for his daughter. But Adam loves a charming and pretty girl Hetty Sorel. Hetty is unaware of Adam's love, she is interested in Captain Arthur Donnithrown. Adam's brother loves Hetty's cousin Dinah Morris, she is a Methodist preacher. For his love Adam confronts with Arthur and as a agreement he leaves Hetty. Adam and Hetty's marriage is settled but before the marriage she came to know about her pregnancy. In fear of social consequences, she leaves the village, wanders in search of Arthur. She delivers the baby but unfortunately she dies. Hetty is found guilty and imprisoned. Eventually, Adam and Dinah realize their love bonds, they pass out their life in peace and happiness.
One of the leading English novelist of the Victorian era, George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans. She was born on 22 November 1819, in rural Warwickshire. Her father Robert Evans was a estate manager and mother's name was Christiana Evans. She was influenced by her family's Methodist religious faith. She got an opportunity to read books in estate library and acquired good knowledge. For early education she studied at a local school and after that in a boarding. After her mother's death she left the school to help her father. While living in Coventry Eliot came in contact with Charles and Caroline Bray, their influence revolutionized her thinking and she became a rationalist. Her love partner George Henry Lewes encouraged her for fiction writing. Under the pen name of George Eliot her first novel Adam Bede was published in 1859. Her most notable literary works are- Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Middlemarch, Silas Marne, Daniel Deronda etc. She was died in 1880. She has been appreciated for realistic view of life, psychological insight, ethical exploration and accomplished story theme.
