Ce grand roman politique oppose deux sortes de radicaux réclamant des changements politiques profonds, lors d'une campagne électorale dans l'Angleterre des années 1830 : Harold Transome, riche propriétaire terrien, candidat sous cette étiquette par opportunisme, et Felix Holt, homme du peuple qui n'a pas le droit de vote et dont le radicalisme est un engagement de l'être entier, désireux de changer l'organisation sociale, la répartition des richesses, de redonner à chaque individu une "part d'homme" dans la vie. Les deux hommes se disputent également l'amour d'Esther Lyon, la fille adoptive d'un pasteur. Dans cette lutte entre ancien et nouveau monde, le mérite personnel l'emportera-t-il sur la naissance, pour signer l'entrée dans le monde démocratique ? La collision des destins personnels avec l'histoire collective est le vrai sujet de ce roman peu connu de l'auteure, traduit pour la première fois en français.

Felix Holt, le radical

Le jeune Daniel Deronda, qui a été élevé par son " oncle " en gentleman anglais, se voit attribuer des fonctions de passeur entre deux cultures, entre deux traditions religieuses : le hasard d'une rencontre l'amène à fréquenter la communauté juive de Londres. Son comportement généreux et chevaleresque le rapproche de la petite chanteuse Mirah et de son frère, véritable prophète des temps modernes rêvant d'un retour en Terre Sainte pour son peuple ; mais Daniel reste attaché à la belle Gwendolen, qu'il a vue se précipiter dans un mariage d'intérêt désastreux, tournant au tragique. Dans ce roman novateur, qui, un quart de siècle avant le freudisme, pressent l'existence de territoires non cartographiés de la conscience, le héros est écartelé entre le rôle de confident que Gwendolen veut lui imposer pour échapper à ses peurs et à l'enfer de sa vie conjugale, et la mission qui lui est réservée dans le monde juif.

Daniel Deronda Tome 2

In the fictional town of Middlemarch, selflessness, social reform, and romantic love struggle to survive against human foolishness, economic missteps, and societal ideals. Young and intelligent, Dorothea Brooke hastily marries Casaubon, a middle-aged scholar working tirelessly on his "masterpiece, " The Key to All Mythologies. Their union soon sours, and Dorothea becomes trapped in a difficult situation that worsens upon the death of her husband. Elsewhere in town, Tertius Lydgate, an idealistic young doctor, is caught in an ill-fated union with the sweet but superficial Rosamund Vincy. Intertwined within the lives of these two unfortunate couples is the handsome artist Will Ladislaw, who is sympathetic to Lydgate's ideas about science and medicine, and who develops feelings for his uncle's wife-Dorthea Brooke. Through the voices of the characters in Middlemarch, author George Eliot brings to life various issues of her day, including the role of women, the nature of marriage, political reform, and the status of education. Hailed as the greatest novel in the English language by British author Martin Amis, Middlemarch has been adapted twice for television. HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.

Middlemarch

More than three centuries and a half ago, in the mid spring-time of 1492, we are sure that the angel of the dawn, as he travelled with broad slow wing from the Levant to the Pillars of Hercules, and from the summits of the Caucasus across all the snowy Alpine ridges to the dark nakedness of the Western isles, saw nearly the same outline of firm land and unstable sea-saw the same great mountain shadows on the same valleys as he has seen today-saw olive mounts, and pine forests, and the broad plains green with young corn or rain-freshened grass-saw the domes and spires of cities rising by the river-sides or mingled with the sedge-like masts on the many-curved sea-coast, in the same spots where they rise today. And as the faint light of his course pierced into the dwellings of men, it fell, as now, on the rosy warmth of nestling children; on the haggard waking of sorrow and sickness; on the hasty uprising of the hard-handed labourer; and on the late sleep of the night-student, who had been questioning the stars or the sages, or his own soul, for that hidden knowledge which would break through the barrier of man's brief life, and show its dark path, that seemed to bend no whither, to be an arc in an immeasurable circle of light and glory.

Romola

Depuis l'installation du tisserand Silas Marner dans la campagne anglaise, près du village de Raveloe, les langues vont bon train. Cet homme solitaire, venu de la ville, au regard étrange, aux transes soudaines, et qui passe ses journées devant un métier à tisser, suscite à la fois méfiance et fascination. 

Chaque soir, Silas Marner s'enferme et contemple avec ravissement le fruit de son travail, des pièces d'or et d'argent. Jusqu'au jour où ce beau trésor se volatilise et où Silas découvre, près de son feu, une fillette aux cheveux d'or. 

Tout en portant un regard très réaliste sur l'Angleterre rurale du XIXe siècle qui inspira les débuts de son ouvre, George Eliot, dans ce roman de 1861, écrit un véritable conte moral, où l'on voit un homme cheminer vers sa renaissance spirituelle.

Silas Marner - Le tisserand de Raveloe

À Middlemarch, petite ville de province à l'époque victorienne, les vies se croisent et se lient. Progrès scientifiques, industriels et sociaux s'apprêtent à bouleverser le quotidien. Dorothea Brooke, esprit jeune et libre, en quête d'émancipation, cherche son bonheur dans l'épanouissement intellectuel en épousant l'érudit Casaubon, qui cache mal un manque d'entrain. Tertius Lydgate, médecin idéaliste, s'engage dans une relation avec la vaniteuse Rosamond Vincy et met en péril ses ambitions. Comment s'épanouir au sein d'un mariage voué à l'échec? Peut-on s'affirmer malgré le regard de la société et ses carcans?Entre intrigues entrecoupées et amours contrariées, la grande romancière britannique dresse une fresque sociale sarcastique et une féroce étude de moeurs dans un foisonnement de personnages et de rebondissements. Une exploration grandiose et minutieuse de la nature humaine, de ses illusions et ses tourments, de ses sentiments et son insatiable désir.

"Middlemarch" by George Eliot is a literary masterpiece that immerses readers in the tapestry of a small English town during the 19th century. This novel presents a rich and intricate exploration of human lives, ambitions, and societal dynamics.
The story interweaves the lives of various characters, notably Dorothea Brooke and Dr. Tertius Lydgate, as they navigate personal aspirations, love, and the challenges of their time. Dorothea, an intelligent and idealistic young woman, longs to make a meaningful impact in the world but finds herself constrained by the societal norms of her era.
Dr. Lydgate, on the other hand, arrives in Middlemarch with the ambition to revolutionize medical practices. As he becomes entwined in the town's social fabric, he faces the complexities of balancing professional dreams with personal relationships.
Eliot's eloquent prose delves into themes of marriage, politics, and personal growth against the backdrop of a changing society. The characters' individual journeys and interactions offer a profound exploration of human nature, highlighting the intricate interplay between personal desires and societal influences.
"Middlemarch" is a novel of substance, challenging readers to contemplate the choices that shape lives and the impact of community on individual paths. Eliot's portrayal of intricate relationships and vivid character development ensures that this classic work remains a timeless exploration of the human experience.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
George Eliot, the literary pseudonym of Mary Ann Evans, graced the 19th century with her brilliant prose and profound insights. Born in 1819 in Warwickshire, England, she defied conventions of her era by adopting a male pen name to gain recognition in a male-dominated literary world. Eliot's novels, like 'Middlemarch,' 'Silas Marner,' and 'Adam Bede,' unravel the complexities of human nature, social mores, and the pursuit of individual purpose. Her storytelling prowess crafted characters that mirrored the human condition, exposing vulnerabilities and aspirations. With her wit and intellect, she navigated themes of morality, self-discovery, and societal change, capturing hearts and minds across generations. George Eliot's legacy is etched in her eloquent narratives, a testament to her courage and indomitable spirit that broke literary boundaries and enriched the world of literature.

Who that cares much to know the history of man, and how the mysterious mixture behaves under the varying experiments of Time, has not dwelt, at least briefly, on the life of Saint Theresa, has not smiled with some gentleness at the thought of the little girl walking forth one morning hand-in-hand with her still smaller brother, to go and seek martyrdom in the country of the Moors? Out they toddled from rugged Avila, wide-eyed and helpless-looking as two fawns, but with human hearts, already beating to a national idea; until domestic reality met them in the shape of uncles, and turned them back from their great resolve. That child-pilgrimage was a fit beginning. Theresa's passionate, ideal nature demanded an epic life: what were many-volumed romances of chivalry and the social conquests of a brilliant girl to her? Her flame quickly burned up that light fuel; and, fed from within, soared after some illimitable satisfaction, some object which would never justify weariness, which would reconcile self-despair with the rapturous consciousness of life beyond self. She found her epos in the reform of a religious order.

Felix Holt, le radical

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