Felix Holt, The Radical
by George Eliot
When the young nobleman Harold Transome returns to England from the colonies with a makeshift fortune, he scandalizes the town of Trebi Magna with his decision to run for parliament as a radical. But after the idealistic Felix Holt also returns to the city, the difference between Harold's opportunistic values and Holt's deep beliefs becomes apparent. Frank, rude, and driven by a firm desire to educate the working class, Felix is initially skeptical by many, including the gracious but arrogant Esther Lyon, the daughter of a local clergyman. However, when he discovers, his blunt words hide both passion and deep wholeness. Soon, the romantic and over-refined Esther amazes herself with a heartbreaking decision: will she choose a rich Transome man or a poor but honest Felix Holt.
