George Sand
George Sand was the pen name for Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil, a French novelist, memoirist, journalist, and playwright. She adopted her pseudonym in 1831 at the age of 27 to increase her ability to be published in a male world.
In her lifetime, she was one of the most notable writers in Europe during the Romantic Era, more so than Honore de Balzac or Victor Hugo. A prolific author, she wrote over 70 novels and more than 50 other works in various genres. Sand also wrote an autobiography.
George was a rebel in many respects. In addition to her gender-ambiguous name, she wore male clothing in public despite laws which required women to obtain a permit to wear men’s attire, a rule which she ignored. She also blatantly smoked tobacco in public.
Sand was married once and had two children. Then, she went on to have a bevy of romantic affairs with notable men of her day, several writers, the composer Chopin, and one woman, actress Marie Dorval.
She was politically active, a consultant and advisor to the leaders of the times. “Party politics is now a real farce” ~ George Sand.
George Sand influenced literature in France, across Europe, and Russia and was well-regarded by prominent cultural and literary elites. She was eulogized by Victor Hugo at her funeral.
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