In "Felix Holt, the Radical", an opportunistic bid for power sparks a dramatic love triangle.
Itâs the early 1830s in England, and the town of Treby is gearing up for an election. Harold Transome, a radical candidate, is leading the pack. The problem is that heâs lacking in real beliefsâheâs in politics for the fame. As the election draws nearer, Treby becomes a powder keg of tension. And to make matters worse, Harold and Felix Holt, a man with very real radical beliefs, fall for the same woman.
"Felix Holt, the Radical" may be a âsocial novelâ, but itâs still brimming with Eliotâs trademark humour and humanity. If youâre a fan of Dickensâ blend of political commentary and compelling drama, definitely give this novel a shot.
George Eliot, pseudonym of Mary Ann Evans (1819â1890), was an English novelist, journalist and poet. She took a realist approach to storytelling, finding the drama and beauty in the day-to-day existence of Englandâs rural working classes. Her most famous novels include "Middlemarch", "The Mill on the Floss" and "Adam Bede".
Eliotâs personal life was the subject of some controversy. For over two decades, she lived together with George Henry Lewes, a married manâhe was estranged from his wife but never officially divorced. Their relationship offended Victorian sensibilities, but failed to dent Eliotâs popularity with readers. The pair are buried side-by-side in Londonâs Highgate Cemetery.