Daniel Deronda - Background and Banter

[Dianne]

We begin our discussion on January 13 - so time to get your books!

from wiki:

Daniel Deronda is a novel by George Eliot, first published in 1876. It was the last novel she completed and the only one set in the contemporary Victorian society of her day. The work's mixture of social satire and moral searching, along with its sympathetic rendering of Jewish proto-Zionist ideas, has made it the controversial final statement of one of the most renowned of Victorian novelists.

The novel has been adapted for film three times, once as a silent feature and twice for television. It has also been adapted for the stage, notably in the 1960s by the 69 Theatre Company in Manchester with Vanessa Redgrave cast as the heroine Gwendolen Harleth.

[Dianne]

I'm reading the modern library edition, which has 737 pages. I am figuring if we start jan 13 we could read through the end of march at about 67 pages a week?

Thanks to Jen who noted this:

For those who like audio format, there's a version on Hoopla (free) read by Juliet Stevenson, a favourite narrator of mine. I think I'll start reading from a paper copy but might move over to audio at some point.

Tracey, hopefully that helps you to have an audio version available - so sorry your eyesight has hampered your reading!

[Tammy Dayton]

This is my first discussion group and I am very excited. When you say "start Jan 13" does that mean to have the first 67 pages read or to start reading? It is probably obvious to all of you, but I need to put it first if we start our discussion on Jan.13.

[Dianne]

Welcome Tammy and Cphe! I will post the full reading schedule tomorrow but the first week (each week running from Sunday to the next Saturday) of Jan 13-19 will cover the first 67 or so pages. So you can feel free to discuss that entire section beginning on Jan 13. You can always post to any thread once the week has past and people will respond, but I think it’s more fun if most people stay with the schedule and we have a dialogue going.

[Tracey]

Already have my book and am reading and listening to it. So far enjoying it and looking forward to the discussion. Very character filled.

[Dianne]

That’s great Tracey! Has anyone read other works by Eliot? I read Middlemarch last year and really enjoyed it.

[Peg]

I read Silas Marner and Mill on the Floss many years ago and Middlemarch recently.

[Tracey]

Dianne wrote: "That’s great Tracey! Has anyone read other works by Eliot? I read Middlemarch last year and really enjoyed it."

George Eliot (or Mary Ann Evans as was her real name) is one of my favourite authors. I have read a lot of her works.
Adam Bede Silas Marner Middlemarch The Mill on the Floss

[Roman Clodia]

I've read Adam Bede, Middlemarch, The Mill on the Floss, and Romola, Eliot's only historical novel set in Renaissance Florence. I read and loved Deronda as a teenager, am excited to be doing a reread with this group.

[[deleted user]]

I haven’t read any Eliot before so I’m glad to be finally reading her. I’ve started Daniel Deronda already & I’m enjoying her writing style.

[Hugh]

I have only read Middlemarch and Adam Bede, both a long time ago. I picked up my copy of Daniel Deronda yesterday, and will start it soon.

[Dianne]

I'm starting DD today, so far really enjoying it! George Eliot is fascinating, wiki notes:

Mary Anne Evans (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880; alternatively Mary Ann or Marian), known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She wrote seven novels, including Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), Romola (1862–63), Middlemarch (1871–72), and Daniel Deronda (1876), most of which are set in provincial England and known for their realism and psychological insight.

Although female authors were published under their own names during her lifetime, she wanted to escape the stereotype of women's writing being limited to lighthearted romances. She also wanted to have her fiction judged separately from her already extensive and widely known work as an editor and critic. Another factor in her use of a pen name may have been a desire to shield her private life from public scrutiny, thus avoiding the scandal that would have arisen because of her relationship with the married George Henry Lewes.

Eliot's Middlemarch has been described by the novelists Martin Amis and Julian Barnes as the greatest novel in the English language.

[Dianne]

While I enjoyed middlemarch, I didn't think it was 'the greatest novel in the english language.' It will be interesting to see how DD compares!

[Tammy Dayton]

Dianne wrote: "That’s great Tracey! Has anyone read other works by Eliot? I read Middlemarch last year and really enjoyed it."

I read The Mill on the Floss last year and enjoyed it.

[Jen]

I absolutely loved Middlemarch and count it among my very favourite novels. But that's the only of Eliot's I've read so I was excited and nervous starting this... but so far I'm loving the same deep insight into the character's lives and experiences that I found in MM. I think this is shaping up to be an interesting story, too.

[Tracey]

I think an interesting point to take note of whilst reading Daniel Deronda is this:

"George Eliot's novels draw heavily on Greek literature and her themes are often influenced by Greek tragedy".

[Tammy Dayton]

Dianne wrote: "I'm starting DD today, so far really enjoying it! George Eliot is fascinating, wiki notes:

Mary Anne Evans (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880; alternatively Mary Ann or Marian), known by her pe..."

After reading wikipedia, I think her life would make an awesome movie.

[Bron]

I am eagerly awaiting my copy of the book to arrive! It is good to hear that there is also an audio version as I do enjoy listening in the car when I have no kids with me, so I might use both but we'll see. I have previously read The Mill on the Floss quite a few years ago now but I recall having liked it. Looking forward to getting stuck in!

[[deleted user]]

I joined the group so I could be reading this one with you - it certainly looks tempting!

I've only ever read Silas Marner by Eliot, but this summer I revisited her work by reading Romola, which I just loved, and wasn't intimidated by the size in the least (that came as a surprise).

My copy of Deronda has about 715 pages, so I think that following the schedule should be fairly easy. Looking forward to reading and commenting!

[Dianne]

Welcome Bro and Konstantin!

Our start date has arrived, so looking forward to seeing everyone's comments in the threads!