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Summary: Daniel Deronda - A Search For Meaning And a Spiritual Center
Review: "Daniel Deronda" is George Eliot's last and, perhaps, most ambitious novel. It has great literary merit, but I do not think it is her best work. The novel contrasts the lax moral attitudes of the British aristocracy with the focused dedication of the Jewish Zionists. Given the typical anti-Semitic sentiments in Victorian England, and the little known world of the Jews and the Zionist Movement, Ms. Eliot's made a brave and idealistic effort by writing this book.Ms. Elliot describes the lives of British Jews, a society-within-a-society, of which most of her contemporaries were oblivious, through her hero Daniel Deronda. Through her heroine, Gwendolyn Harleth, who marries for money and power rather than love, Eliot explores a side of human relations that leads only to despair. Daniel sees Gwendolyn, for the first time, at a roulette table. He is fascinated by her classical, blonde English beauty, and vivacious, self-assured manner. When Ms. Harleth is forced to sell her necklace to pay gambling debts, Deronda, a disapproving observer, buys back the jewelry, anonymously, and returns it to her. This is not the last time the deeply spiritual and altruistic Deronda will feel a need to rescue Gwendolyn. Daniel was adopted by an English gentleman at an early age. He has received affection, a good education, and to some extent, position, from his guardian. However, Deronda has never been told the story of his true parentage, and sorely feels this lack of roots and his own identity. Not content to play the gentleman, he always appears to be searching for a purpose in life. Daniel's and Gwendolyn's lives intersect throughout the novel. They feel a strong mutual attraction initially, but Gwendolyn, with incredible passivity, decides to marry someone she knows is a scoundrel, for his wealth. The decision will haunt her as her life becomes a nightmare with the sadistic Mr. Harcourt, her husband. At about the same time, Daniel inadvertently saves a young woman from suicide. He finds young Mirah Lapidoth, near drowning, by the river and takes her to a friend's home to recover. There she is made welcome and asked to stay. She is a Jewess, abducted from her mother years before, by her father, who wanted to use the child's talent as a singer to earn money. When young Mirah forced her voice beyond its limits, and lost her ability to sing, her father abandoned her. She has never been able to reunite with her mother and brother, and was alone and destitute, until Daniel found her. Daniel, in his search for Mirah's family, meets the Cohens, a Jewish shop owner and his kin. Deronda feels an immediate affinity with them and visits often. He also comes to know a Jewish philosopher and Zionist, Mordecai, and they forge a strong bond of friendship. Daniel finally does discover his identity, and has a very poignant and strange meeting with his mother. He had been actively taking steps to make a meaningful existence for himself, and with the new information about his parents and heritage, he leaves England with a wife, for a new homeland and future. One of the novel's most moving scenes is when Daniel and Gwendolyn meet for the last time. Gwendolyn has grown from a self-centered young woman to a mature, thoughtful adult, who has suffered and grown strong. The author is one of my favorites and her writing is exceptional. This particular novel, however, became occasionally tedious with Ms. Eliot's monologues, and the book's length. Her characters are fascinating, original as always, and well drawn. The contrast between the lives of the British aristocracy, the emerging middle class, and the Jewish community gives the reader an extraordinary glimpse into three totally different worlds in Victorian England. A fine book and a wonderful reading experience.
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Summary: Another monument to Eliot's brilliance
Review: "Daniel Deronda," the culmination of George Eliot's distinguished career, is a tale of two cultures which explores the themes of concealed heritage, bigotry, and marriages of convenience in a manner never done before or since. Like its predecessor "Middlemarch," it is a long novel of perfectly structured complexity and impressive intellectual exposition, built upon a cast of characters so sharply and meticulously defined that the plot is propelled solely by the power of their presence. This is the novel that Henry James wanted to write, and even he could never match Eliot's passion and linguistic effortlessness. The forward story in "Daniel Deronda" is that of Gwendolen Harleth, a coquettish, conceited, superficial girl -- in company she often affects a sophistication that is never quite convincing -- who could be called the heroine even though she lacks most heroic attributes. She is from an upper class family, but when misfortune strikes and she is faced with poverty, she consents to marry a man named Mallinger Grandcourt, heir to a large estate, rather than reduce herself to taking a job as a governess, and despite having received a warning from a mysterious lady about Grandcourt's having fathered illegitimate children. The secondary story is that of Daniel Deronda, the title character, a young man who first sees Gwendolen in a casino in Leubronn at the beginning of the novel. Daniel, who happens to be the ward of Mallinger Grandcourt's uncle, Sir Hugo Mallinger, is inquisitive about his obscure parentage and unsure of his place in the world. One portentous day, he rescues a girl from drowning herself -- this is Mirah Lapidoth, a Jewish girl who has run away from her father in Prague and come to London to look for her long-lost mother and brother. Daniel decides to help her by playing detective, which eventually leads him to befriend a family of Jewish shopkeepers named Cohen, whom he supposes to be related to Mirah, and a deeply religious man named Mordecai. Eliot intertwines this Judaic element with that of Gwendolen's unhappy marriage, as Daniel maintains a steady companionship with her while he spends time immersing himself in Jewish culture, learning about a past he never knew he had. The event by which Gwendolen's situation resolves itself is foreshadowed by a particularly eerie symbol: In her family's house, there is a painting she dreads, apparently conceived by a morbid ancestor, depicting a figure running away in fright from an upturned dead face. As a plot device it may seem unrealistically gothic, but Eliot's treatment of her material is too somber and mature ever to succumb to the absurd. This novel, while not as consistently great as "Middlemarch," confirms my opinion that Eliot is the most accomplished, intelligent, and original of the Victorian novelists, boldly ahead of her time. She is undeniably one of the greatest psychological portraitists in literature; better than most other authors, she understands the way people think and why they do what they do, which is probably why her sense of tragedy feels authentic rather than merely sentimental. Whether "Daniel Deronda" is read to get a unique insight on Jewish life in London in the nineteenth century or just to bask in the opulence of Eliot's prose, the effort will be richly rewarded.
Rating: 
Summary: A good look at late Eliot
Review: "Daniel Deronda," the culmination of George Eliot's distinguished career, is a tale of two cultures which explores the themes of concealed heritage, bigotry, and marriages of convenience in a manner never done before or since. Like its predecessor "Middlemarch," it is a long novel of perfectly structured complexity and impressive intellectual exposition, built upon a cast of characters so sharply and meticulously defined that the plot is propelled solely by the power of their presence. This is the novel that Henry James wanted to write, and even he could never match Eliot's passion and linguistic effortlessness. The forward story in "Daniel Deronda" is that of Gwendolen Harleth, a coquettish, conceited, superficial girl -- in company she often affects a sophistication that is never quite convincing -- who could be called the heroine even though she lacks most heroic attributes. She is from an upper class family, but when misfortune strikes and she is faced with poverty, she consents to marry a man named Mallinger Grandcourt, heir to a large estate, rather than reduce herself to taking a job as a governess, and despite having received a warning from a mysterious lady about Grandcourt's having fathered illegitimate children. The secondary story is that of Daniel Deronda, the title character, a young man who first sees Gwendolen in a casino in Leubronn at the beginning of the novel. Daniel, who happens to be the ward of Mallinger Grandcourt's uncle, Sir Hugo Mallinger, is inquisitive about his obscure parentage and unsure of his place in the world. One portentous day, he rescues a girl from drowning herself -- this is Mirah Lapidoth, a Jewish girl who has run away from her father in Prague and come to London to look for her long-lost mother and brother. Daniel decides to help her by playing detective, which eventually leads him to befriend a family of Jewish shopkeepers named Cohen, whom he supposes to be related to Mirah, and a deeply religious man named Mordecai. Eliot intertwines this Judaic element with that of Gwendolen's unhappy marriage, as Daniel maintains a steady companionship with her while he spends time immersing himself in Jewish culture, learning about a past he never knew he had. The event by which Gwendolen's situation resolves itself is foreshadowed by a particularly eerie symbol: In her family's house, there is a painting she dreads, apparently conceived by a morbid ancestor, depicting a figure running away in fright from an upturned dead face. As a plot device it may seem unrealistically gothic, but Eliot's treatment of her material is too somber and mature ever to succumb to the absurd. This novel, while not as consistently great as "Middlemarch," confirms my opinion that Eliot is the most accomplished, intelligent, and original of the Victorian novelists, boldly ahead of her time. She is undeniably one of the greatest psychological portraitists in literature; better than most other authors, she understands the way people think and why they do what they do, which is probably why her sense of tragedy feels authentic rather than merely sentimental. Whether "Daniel Deronda" is read to get a unique insight on Jewish life in London in the nineteenth century or just to bask in the opulence of Eliot's prose, the effort will be richly rewarded.
Rating:
Summary: Coming soon - "Gwyneth Paltrow as Gwendolen Harleth"?!
Review: George Eliot's last novel is nothing less than extraordinary. The most obvious thing is that most of it is a thumpingly good read, especially the first third - witty,lively and devoid of Eliot's sometimes irritating commentaries (Eliot has an amazing mind, and her comments can both fascinate and slow the speed of the narrative). We seem to be in a decaying world of Jane Austen, with a descendant of her Emma Wodehouse - silly, headstrong, egotistical yet alluring Gwendolen Harleth. The tension heightens when Gwendolen finally marries Grandcourt, and both she and the reader realise she has made the most ghastly mistake. Brilliantly, Eliot portrays in disturbing detail the psychological twists and turns of the relationship, as the 'powerful' Gwendolen finds herself trapped by a silent sado-masochist. Grandcourt is actually shown to do very little out of place - which is the achievement - and we are left to imagine what Gwendolen must be going through in the bedroom. We become enmeshed in her consciousness - not always a pleasant experience. It is a brave novel for its time. The rest of the novel concerns the eponymous Daniel, his discovery of his identity as a Jew, and his final mission to devote himself to his race. It is thought-provoking, and interesting, and much has been said about how the way the novel is really two stories. The problem really is that the Gwendolen part is so well done that a reader feels disappointed to leave her and join the less enthralling Daniel. The ending doesn't quite thrill as other moments of the book do, and there is an over-long section relating the conversation of a philosophy society, but, thanks to Gwendolen and Grandcourt, it stands out as one of the most memorable pieces of literature in English. Take away the 'Daniel' part and it is Eliot's masterpiece - and great material for the cinema. Maybe it's because she played the aforementioned Emma, but Gwyneth Paltrow could do a fantastic job as Gwendolen - just imagine her playing the great scene where the melodramatic diamonds arrive on her wedding night, and she goes beserk and throws them around!
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Summary: an unexpected pleasing read
Review: i am an English student and though my area is American Literature, i cannot help but comment on this book. i despise Victorian English lit, the pastorial settings (even in WUTHERINE HEIGHTS everyone, except heathcliff, pretends to be happier than they really are) and the false professions of love and the entirely unbelieveability of the entire genre has turned me off. I had to read DANIEL DERONDA for a class and became enthralled. Finally here was a book where we could see all the facets of peoples lives, from Grandcourt's illigitimate children and Deronda's search to be something other than what he is. I thought all the characters were extremely honest and interesting , especially Gwendolen, the beauty who is the envy of all, yet she too is unsure of who she really is. this book would make a fantastic mini-series. my only complaint is that the parts with Mordecai seemed to be a little long and drawn out, causing my head to bob as sleep threatened. other than that it was great.
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Summary: Read Middlemarch first
Review: Middlemarch is perhaps the most near to perfect novel there is, but Deronda is a flawed one. It should certainly not be ignored, but I fear it might discourage some from reading Middlemarch, the novel that made Eliot's reputation what it is. Deronda is a lot like Anna Karenina in that it focuses on two primary characters almost as if it were two separate novels. The stories do intersect, but the intersections seemed to me to be hindering contrivances. I did not enjoy the Deronda string very much; the Gwendolen string was much more moving. Indeed, Gwendolen Harleth is as memorable a character as Anna Karenina. Deronda, unfortunately, is not nearly as memorable as Levin. I read the introduction to this edition after finishing the novel and was a little dismayed to find an apologia for the novel focusing precisely on the those same criticisms I owned. There were vague hints of cultural bias suggested as the cause of not finding the Deronda string aesthetically pleasing and I found this quite not to my taste. I would recommend skipping the introduction.
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Summary: Absolute Treasure
Review: There is little I can add to the reviews below, all of which are right on the money. What I CAN do is provide those new to George Eliot with some helpful hints. First, especially for Daniel Deronda, DO NOT READ THE INTRODUCTION IN ADVANCE! This advice is actually given by the intro author, and your reading experience will be greatly diminished if you do! Second, be prepared to sit down, relax, and READ. There's no skimming Daniel Deronda: the novel is full to the brim with historical, spiritual, and psychological depth, all of which demand close attention, and at times can be daunting. (All that, and a love story, to boot!) Stick with it, and you will be richly rewarded with one of the best reads of your life.
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Summary: Choose another of Eliot's works before reading this book
Review: This is the first I have read of Eliot's work. The story centers around a woman named Gwendolen Harleth whose family has lost their fortunes, a young jewish singer named Mirah who is on the run from her father, and Daniel Deronda, who rescues the young jewess from drowning herself. The plot draws the three together as if they are bound by fate, while Eliot continues to add side characters and subplots to spice up the book.
The storyline was enough to keep my interest, but there were overlying thematic issues that caused my attention to waver. I found several passages in the book weighty and overdone, and there was many times that I found I had read pages of description without having any of it sinking in, nor caring by the time I had realized. I did, however, find the overall plot centering around the three main characters of enough depth and feeling to keep me focused on them, and I liked Eliot's story telling ability enough to make me want to read more of her. Perhaps this is not the best book to read when beginning with George Eliot. I give it 3 and a half stars.
Rating:
Summary: A good look at late Eliot
Review: This is the first of Eliot's novels that I read. For being a Victorian women, I must say that it's also one of her most thematically adventurous novels as well. She addresses so much within the pages of this novel that it's amazing that one can still be interested in the plot. For a 500-page novel, it's thick with symbolism and social themes such as womens' rights (or lack thereof in society), Judaism, the difference in social classes, etc... Although the two contrasting stories of Daniel and Gwendolen seem somewhat strangely juxtaposed, they are actually complimentary and intertwining at points in this coming-of-age novel. Eliot's writing is typical Victorian: winded and the usage of the appendix in the back becomes tiresome, but it also shows intellect behind the pseudonym that one is forced to appreciate. It's hard to find a lovable character in this story because of the purposeful idealism and poorly sketched minor characters, but the portrait she draws of Gwendolen and Daniel's mother (who seemingly parallels Mrs. Havisham in Great Expectations, I think) are memorable.
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Summary: Victorian Lit at its Height!
Review: This novel is well-written and explores many issues of 19th century Victorian England.
Both hero and heroine are magnificent. Each individual and each unique in its own way. Gwendolen with her vanity and selfishness is both endearing as a spoilt child and comic, when you think how seriously she takes her own worth until the end of the novel when all her realizations begin.
Daniel Deronda is beautiful as the sensitive, kind, compassionate young man who gives so much of himself to others, and in the end has to make final decission for his own life.
The only dissappointment is the ending in which he choses to marry Mirah. Mirah is both dull and uninteresting. Whereas Gwendolen and Daniel in their two contrasting natures seem to create perfect balance.
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