Daniel Deronda (1876)

With its competing issues of feminism and anti-semitism, the novel is full of insightful characterisations, especially Gwendolen's, - nobody is just some adjectives thrown together but the result of their environment and upbringing and society - and intricate psychological dissections of every action and relationships. However, as a non-Jewish woman and also due to some frankly unbelievable and contrived plot points, I would have preferred a novel called Gwendolen Harleth by Mary Ann Evans.

Gwendolen is proud, sarcastic, self-absorbed and absolutely wonderful in how utterly feminist she is, but realistically so in the 19th century manner but her ideas would not be out of place here in our current context. Her literary best friend would have to be Lily Bart from Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, two charismatic and headstrong, practical women, carving a path through the heartbroken suitors, seeing through the façade of their lifestyles but making the most out of their situations against presiding conventions. Her story arc was realistic and the chilling way Eliot captures a controlling, psychologically abusive marriage leaves me mad and yelling about the necessity of feminism.

Her relationship with Deronda evolves to be from attraction to moral dependence but not out of necessity or plot-advancement, seemingly just as a tool to keep the eponymous character relevant. His entire backstory and side-plots left me impatient for the novel to return to Gwen. Coincidences in fiction should be only ever employed as a tool for some eventual misfortune, not a happy ending with a saintly creature you happened to rescue from suicide by fortuitous timing, whose only "flaw" is her stubborn insistence in marrying someone of Jewish background. When the resolution of a major plot point/happiness rests on the heretofore-unsuspected-by-anyone secret that you are actually Jewish, this is not good plotting.

Read the novel for appreciation of the Eliot's incisive and discerning understanding of human behaviour but not for a satisfying combination of feminism and antisemitism, pick one reading and proceed. ( )

couldn't get into it...

I have a sneaking suspicion that I have just read the best book I will read in 2016- [Daniel Deronda] by [George Eliot]. I have now read all of Eliot's works and this is by far the best layered and most emotion illiciting book of the bunch. This is Eliot's final and most in-depth novel. It does not take place in rural England, but in a very modern London. Although the book is titled Daniel Deronda, he often plays second fiddle to several other characters. The plot is two-fold, one plot line involving traditional English class society and focusing on the life and fate of Gwendolen Harleth, an initially arrogant and pampered young woman who, through a series of misadventures, chooses to marry Grandcourt, a corrupt and domineering titled Englishman who makes her life a misery. The second plot line involves a young Jewess, Mirah, and her brother Mordecai (Ezra), following their struggles in England. The two plots are linked by Daniel Deronda, presumably a bastard child of a wealthy man.

This work by Eliot tackled the really tough topic of Zionism. In fact I read that following Eliot's death, there were attempts to publish the book without the Zionist parts. Highly recommend this book! 5 stars! ( )

Well woven story, but I never quite understood why Daniel had to go east... ( )

My first meeting with George Eliot’s last novel was actually 10 years ago with its 2002 BBC adaptation , which soon became one of my best favourites , when I hadn’t even read a page from the book and only just heard about it.
BBC drama was stunning and I found the story so original and brave that I promised myself I would read the book sooner or later. I’ve kept the promise though it wasn’t sooner. You know, how is it that we usually complain? Too many books, too little time. That’s it. Now, let’s start my musings giving some order to my thoughts , focusing on few important themes and, especially, let’s introduce the book properly.
Read my complete review at http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.it/2012/09/reading-daniel-deronda-george-...