Door Stop: Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

Today's selection has been sitting in my 'to read' pile for quite some time now, mostly due to its length. Daniel Deronda is not the longest book I have read by George Eliot, as Middlemarch will always hold that title. Even so, I knew it would take some time, and more than a little perseverance.

The Situation: It is mid-1860s England, and Gwendolen Harleth can only think of herself. She is young, beautiful, self-centered, somewhat manipulative, and cannot understand why there should ever be any obstacle standing in the way of what she wants. She has four younger half-sisters, but completely dominates her mother's time and is always able to sway her to her will. But it is while she is away in Germany that she crosses paths with Daniel Deronda, and the two begin a friendship that will carry them through the remainder of the novel. As the ward of the wealthy Sir Hugo Mallinger, Deronda does not know who his real parents are, and has simply been raised to be an English gentleman, while occasionally entertaining the possibility that he is actually Sir Hugo's son. Always one to help others, even at great cost to himself, Deronda rescues a young Jewish woman who is moments away from killing herself, and makes it his mission to make sure she is cared and provided for.  

The Problem: Gwendolen has no interest in being a wife, or a working woman, or basically anything she does not want to be. Unfortunately, her family is in a financial situation that forces her to choose, leading her to become the wife of the awful Henleigh Mallinger Grandcourt, which allows for financial stability for both herself and her mother. Despite this union, she and Deronda remain close, even while Deronda becomes closer to Mirah and her family. This friendship allows for Deronda to learn more about the Jewish people, a subject in which he becomes increasingly interested, much to the annoyance of some of his close friends. As Gwendolen suffers in her unhappy marriage, Deronda struggles with what he learns, which soon includes the truth about his own birth. The time soon comes when he must decide what path he will take, and who he will become.

Genre, Themes, History: The is a fiction novel that first opens upon a scene in Germany in 1865, where Gwendolen is at a roulette table and finds Deronda looking at her. The story then goes back to England in 1864, and explains how both the hero and heroine will find themselves together in that room less than a year later. The first half of the book focuses greatly on Gwendolen, only occasionally mentioning Deronda, and a lot of the time it is only in relation to his interactions with her. The mystery of his parentage is brought up, and his rescue of Mirah is presented, but the novel remains primarily focused on Gwendolen, right up to her marriage to Grandcourt. Once she is clearly established as unhappily married, the real focus on Deronda begins, as well as his new Jewish friends, their history, and their surroundings. More than a few critics have argued that the book's focus should have remained on Gwendolen, as she is considered to be one of Eliot's best characters. Of course, some of these critics would also have liked for the book to be rid of the Jewish section completely, finding it unnecessary. Even so, the book focuses heavily, especially near the end, on the Jewish people, and the general feelings of discrimination against them in mid-19th century England.

My Verdict: It is always a bit confusing when a book is named after one character, but focuses more so on another character, especially right at the beginning. In the case of Daniel Deronda, it was not only confusing, but also frustrating, as Gwendolen Harleth is not a good person. I was eager for her downfall, or at least for her realization that she is not the center of the every one's universe. It was a relief as the book began to focus more and more on Daniel, but it still left things to feel a little off-balance. And as long as the book is, I cannot say that all that much happens in 700+ pages that could not have happened in half that amount. It is not a bad book, just so much of it seemed unnecessary, and I am not joining the critics who believe that the Jewish sections should be cut. That part was interesting, and if anything, could have used more exploration.

Favorite Moment: When Gwendolen is faced with the reality that she can either get married to a wealthy suitor, or become a governess. 

Favorite Character: Ezra Mordecai Cohen is *spoiler alert* revealed to be Mirah's brother. From the beginning, he is supportive and sympathetic, while also being more than a little curious (and suspicious) concerning Deronda's true heritage.

Recommended Reading: Eliot's Middlemarch is another one that requires patience, but is a bit more complex, story wise.