Middlemarch and other novels by women to be released under authors’ real names

Throughout history, many female writers were forced to use male pen names for their writing to be published or taken seriously

George Eliot aka Mary Ann Evans, writer of 'Middlemarch' (Rex Features)

Books written by women using male aliases are being reissued under their writers’ real names.

The collection of 25, which has been dubbed the Reclaim Her Name library, includes Middlemarch by George Eliot (aka Mary Ann Evans) and A Phantom Lover by Vernon Lee (aka Violet Paget).

The novels have been released to mark the 25th anniversary of the Women's Prize for Fiction.

Throughout history, many female writers were forced to use male pen names for their writing to be published or taken seriously.

Founder director of the Women's Prize for Fiction, Kate Mosse, told the BBC the initiative would continue a process of "empowering women, igniting conversations and ensuring they get the recognition they deserve".

The full collection can be downloaded as in free e-book form here.

Physical copies will also be donated to libraries across the UK.