Daniel Deronda book cover

Daniel Deronda by George Eliot Summary

Daniel Deronda
George Eliot
3.86 (26656 Reviews)
Society
Relationship
Philosophy
History
Overview
Key Takeaways
Author
FAQs

Overview of Daniel Deronda

George Eliot's final masterpiece explores identity and prejudice through dual narratives. This groundbreaking Victorian novel inspired Zionism, influencing Emma Lazarus and Golda Meir. What made this controversial work keep Israel's future Prime Minister captivated until her final days?

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1

When a Glance Across a Casino Floor Changes Everything

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A young woman in emerald silk commands the roulette table at Monte Carlo, her beauty matched only by the desperation flickering behind her eyes. Across the room, a gentleman watches-not with desire, but with something more unsettling: moral concern. This charged encounter between Gwendolen Harleth and Daniel Deronda sets in motion George Eliot's revolutionary final novel, a work that dared to center Jewish identity in Victorian England when antisemitism was as common as afternoon tea. Published in 1876, it became Freud's favorite novel and influenced early Zionist thinking. What makes this book extraordinary isn't just its progressive politics-it's how Eliot dissects the cages we build for ourselves, whether gilded by wealth or reinforced by society's expectations.

2

The Gilded Trap of Victorian Womanhood

3

A Heritage Reclaimed Against All Odds

4

The Mother Who Chose Freedom Over Everything

5

Love as Partnership, Not Possession

6

The Painful Education of the Soul

7

The Web That Binds Us All

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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
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12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
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star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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96
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4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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