This novel is classic reading. I read it at university, because I had plenty of time and read widely because I enjoyed the freedom to do so. It has become my favourite book and have read it twice now. It is a slow read, but enjoyable read where the protagonist's identity is slowly unravelled. He goes on a journey of self-discovery while becoming aware of people who are different from himself in social class and religion. At the heart of the novel is an story of adoption and an exploration of nurture versus nature. There is also a love story or perhaps even love triangle built into the plot, but the main focus remains firmly on Deronda finding himself, accepting who he is and defying social conventions.