Felix Holt, the Radical

Against the backdrop of England’s contentious 1832 Reform era, the idealistic working-class radical Felix Holt, the disillusioned heiress Esther, and a tangle of inheritance and political ambition are drawn together in a story of conscience, class, and reform. Eliot combines a gripping plot of secrets and elections with her characteristic moral seriousness and sympathy for ordinary lives. A thoughtful exploration of political change and personal integrity, Felix Holt, the Radical examines what it truly means to improve society and oneself. Rich in character and idea, it is a rewarding Victorian novel about the collision of politics, love, and the difficult work of living an honest life.