George Sand (July 1, 1804 - June 8, 1876) was the pseudonym of French novelist and feminist Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin, later Baroness Dudevant. Sand was an amazing author, personality, and all-around woman. She earned as much notoriety for her Bohemian lifestyle as for her written work. Sand wore men's clothing in public. In addition to being comfortable, Sand's male dress enabled her to circulate more freely in Paris than most of her female contemporaries, and gave her increased access to venues from which women were often barred. Also scandalous was Sand's smoking tobacco in public. Besides the novels she became famous for Sand authored literary criticism and political texts. She wrote many essays and published works establishing her socialist position. She sided with the poor and working class. When the 1848 Revolution began, women had no rights and Sand believed these were necessary for progress.