<P><B>George Eliot's final novel is an extraordinary, tender examination of two very different lives</B></P><P>A beautiful young woman stands poised over the gambling tables in an expensive hotel. She is aware of, and resents, the gaze of an unusual young man, a stranger, who seems to judge her, and finds her wanting. The stories of these two people will unfold separately and very differently, but the encounter will change her life. The strange young man is Daniel Deronda, brought up with his own origins shrouded in mystery, searching for a compelling outlet for his singular talents and remarkable capacity for empathy. Deronda's destiny will change the lives of many.