The pen name of the famous British novelist during the Victorian era is George Eliot, which was the pseudonym of Mary Ann Evans. Writing in the 19th century, Eliot was known for her profound psychological insight and exploration of social issues, particularly in her novels like "Middlemarch" and "Silas Marner." Using a male pseudonym allowed her to be taken seriously in a male-dominated literary field and provided her with a broader readership. Her work often challenged the conventions of her time, focusing on themes of community, individual choice, and morality, making her one of the leading literary figures of the era.