George Sand

George Sand, pseudonym of Aurore Dupin, Baroness de Dudevant (1804-1876), established himself as one of the greatest names in French literature, creating a vast body of work consisting of 68 novels, as well as political texts, plays, memoirs and travel books. At the age of twenty-seven he was already the most popular writer in Europe, surpassing the notoriety of Victor Hugo and Balzac, who greatly admired him. She achieved the very rare feat of being both popular and prestigious, and was the first woman to be able to support herself through writing. Henry James praised his talent and "great style", Dostoevsky translated and paid homage to it, and his work continues to be referred to in the books of contemporary authors such as A. S. Byatt.