Who is the 19th-century French author, the first woman admitted to the Goncourt Academy, famous for her social critiques in her novels about rural life?

George Sand

George Sand, born Amantine Aurore Lucile Dupin, was a bold literary figure of the 19th century. She adopted a male pseudonym to publish her works, challenging the social conventions and gender expectations of her time. Besides her novels, she is famous for her tumultuous personal life, including her passionate affair with the poet Alfred de Musset. Sand was a pioneer in the fight for women's independence and equality, using her writing to explore and critique social inequalities.