George Eliot, Judaism, and the novels

By Saleel Nurbhai

Book Description

This groundbreaking literary analysis reveals how Jewish mystical traditions profoundly shaped one of Victorian literature's most celebrated authors. Rather than viewing George Eliot's engagement with Judaism as limited to her final novel, this study demonstrates how Kabbalistic concepts and Jewish mythological frameworks influenced her entire body of fiction.

The exploration uncovers a hidden mystical architecture within Eliot's work, challenging conventional interpretations that place her solely within the realist tradition. By examining how the author wove Jewish esoteric ideas throughout her novels, readers discover a writer who anticipated modernist techniques of layering symbolic meaning and mythic resonance into narrative structure.

The book provides essential background on the golem myth and various aspects of Kabbalism, making these complex spiritual concepts accessible to contemporary readers. This approach illuminates how Eliot, without literal religious belief, skillfully employed mystical frameworks to create deeper dimensions of meaning in her storytelling.

For those interested in the intersection of spirituality and literature, this work offers valuable insights into how ancient wisdom traditions can inform creative expression. It demonstrates how Jewish mystical thought influenced Victorian intellectual culture and continues to resonate in modern literary consciousness.

This study appeals to readers exploring the golem as both mythic symbol and metaphor, those curious about Jewish spiritual influence on Western literature, and anyone seeking to understand how mystical concepts can enrich artistic creation.