George Sand

1804 – 1876 · died at about 72^[1][2]

Literature

Fun Facts About George Sand

• George Sand took her pen name from her lover Jules Sandeau: the pair had co-written a novel as "J. Sand", and she added George to make the name her own.^[1]
• Paris required women to get police permission to wear men's clothing, and Sand obtained a permit in 1831, arguing trousers were cheaper and sturdier than a noblewoman's dress.^[1]
• Chopin composed many of his most famous works, including the Fantaisie in F minor, during long summers at Sand's country manor at Nohant.^[1][3][4]
• After Chopin's death, Sand burned much of their correspondence, so only four letters between the two survive.^[1][3][4]
• Victor Hugo, who later gave the eulogy at her funeral, once said of Sand that "it is not my place to decide whether she is my sister or my brother."^[1][5][6]
• In 1844 Fyodor Dostoevsky translated one of Sand's novels into Russian, only to learn that it had already been published in Russian.^[1][7][8]
• George Sand was alive at the same time as Joseph Haydn — their lives overlapped for 5 years (1804–1809).^{[1][2][9][10]}
• George Sand shares a birthday with Princess Diana: both were born on July 1.^{[1][2][11][12]}

Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil, best known by her pen name George Sand, was a French novelist, memoirist and journalist. Being more renowned than either Victor Hugo or Honoré de Balzac in Britain in the 1830s and 1840s, Sand is recognised as one of the most notable writers of the European Romantic era. She has more than 50 volumes of various works to her credit, including tales, plays and political texts, alongside her 70 novels.^[1]

Contemporaries

Victor Hugo

72 yr overlap

Ralph Waldo Emerson

72 yr overlap

Hans Christian Andersen

70 yr overlap

Charles Babbage

67 yr overlap

Charles Darwin

67 yr overlap

Alexandre Dumas

66 yr overlap

Franz Liszt

65 yr overlap

Michael Faraday

63 yr overlap

Giuseppe Verdi

63 yr overlap

Richard Wagner

63 yr overlap

Otto von Bismarck

61 yr overlap

Jacob Grimm

59 yr overlap

Their World

Questions About George Sand

When was George Sand born?

George Sand was born on July 1, 1804, and died on June 8, 1876.

How old was George Sand at death?

George Sand was born on July 1, 1804, and died on June 8, 1876, at age 71.

What was George Sand known for?

George Sand was known for: French novelist famous under a male pen name. Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil, best known by her pen name George Sand, was a French novelist, memoirist and journalist. Being more renowned than either Victor Hugo or Honoré de Balzac in Britain in the 1830s and 1840s, Sand is recognised as one of the most notable writers of the European Romantic era. She has more than 50 volumes of various works to her credit, including tales, plays and political texts, alongside her 70 novels.

Who was alive at the same time as George Sand?

George Sand's closest contemporary was Victor Hugo. Their lives overlapped for 72 years.