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Article: Our multicultural hero; George Eliot's Daniel Deronda created a storm on publication. But as the BBC's drama reminds us, the issues it confronts are still relevant today.
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- November 25, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: NAOMI LIGHTMAN
IN 1876 George Eliot, the foremost woman novelist of her day, surprised her adoring public with what was to be her last and most controversial work.
Paradoxically, although it was the first of her novels to have a contemporary setting, its hero and many of its characters came from one of the oldest cultures in the world - Judaism. Even as she was writing, Eliot anticipated a prejudiced response.
She had false information fed to the press, making it appear that her novel, Daniel Deronda, would be " perfectly charming" and exclusively about upper-class English ladies and gentlemen.
Its appearance in eight monthly ...