to think that F. R. Leavis was right about 'Daniel Deronda?'

[japaneseknotwood]

Only lit geeks need read this...

Have just finished Daniel Deronda by George Eliot. It was good, but it's like two completely separate books. The 'Jewish community in London' bit is interesting, but so completely separate from the Gwendolen Harleth plot. Plus you get pages of discussion about Zionism which is enlightening but not exactly dramatic.

I think the Gwendolen plot is the best, and a brilliant depiction of an emotional abuser with Henleigh Grandcourt, and the character of Gwendolen Harloth is really nuanced and convincing and sympathetic despite the fact she's very narcissistic. I think the book would have been better if it just concentrated on that tbh.

Am I missing something?

Hmm. Long time since I read it and not familiar with Mr Leavis's views but, I do recall that I struggled with 'Daniel Deronda' for this very reason. The two narrative strands are not woven together enough to make a cohesive whole of the plot. You might do better with this in Adult Fiction in the Book Clubs section? I'm sure there will be Eliot fans there.

Am shamed. Have just rustled around in my memory for FR Leavis on Elliot...

...and came up with that bit from Bridget Jones "THank you Professor Leavis"
"What, THE FR Leavis, who's been dead for 40 years?"

And they say education is never a waste...

ignore daniel deronda. you wanna read romola.

Haha I always think of Bridget Jones when someone mentions Leavis. Going to get cracking on Middlemarch soon...

middlemarch is ok. why the eliot fix?

Middlemarch was orginally going to be two books - one about the doctor and his wife, one about Dorothea and her marriage (sorry, it's been over a decade since I read it, details escape me now), and was smushed into two. And you'll be able to tell that when you read it, although it's a brilliant book - there's these two coexisting plots, and occasionally the two main characters pass each other in the street and say hi.

I wonder if Daniel Deronda came into being the same way?