Romola by George Eliot, 1863.Florence, 1492: Christopher Columbus has sailed towards the New World,and Florence has just mourned the death of its legendary leader,Lorenzo de' Medici. In this setting, a Florentine trader meets ashipwrecked stranger, who introduces himself as Tito Melema, a youngItalianate-Greek scholar.Tito becomes acquainted with several otherFlorentines, including Nello the barber and a young girl named Tessa.He is also introduced to a blind scholar named Bardo de' Bardi, and hisdaughter Romola. As Tito becomes settled in Florence, assisting Bardowith classical studies, he falls in love with Romola. However, Tessafalls in love with Tito, and the two are "married" in a mock ceremony.Mary Anne Evans (1819 - 1880) used a male pen name, she said, to ensure that her works would betaken seriously. Female authors were published under their own namesduring Eliot's life, but she wanted to escape the stereotype of womenwriting only lighthearted romances. She also wished to have her fictionjudged separately from her already extensive and widely known work asan editor and critic. An additional factor in her use of a pen name mayhave been a desire to shield her private life from public scrutiny andto prevent scandals attending her relationship with the married GeorgeHenry Lewes, with whom she lived for over 20 years.