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Classic Literature

Brother Jacob: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Brother Jacob: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Brother Jacob is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Eliot, George (1819–1880).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Brother Jacob" by George Eliot is a novella written during the Victorian era, likely in the mid-to-late 19th century. This story captures the life of David Faux, a confectioner whose ambition drives him to leave his family and seek fortune in the West Indies, only to return with little more than a sense of disillusionment. The narrative explores themes of ambition, family dynamics, and social status, particularly the unexpected twists of fate that shape David's character and circumstances. The tale follows David Faux, who initially dreams of finding success in the confectionery business but ends up stealing his mother’s savings to fund his emigration. Despite his high hopes of becoming prominent in a foreign land, he instead finds himself disillusioned with the realities of life in the West Indies, ultimately returning home to a life he had tried to escape. Upon his return, he assumes the name Edward Freely, hoping to start anew in the town of Grimworth. However, his past catches up with him in the form of his brother Jacob, an idiot who complicates David's plans and becomes an impediment to his social aspirations. The story unfolds with a rich examination of societal expectations, family loyalty, and the nature of success, culminating in David's failure to attain the life he longed for, thus highlighting the intricate ways in which life can thwart one's ambitions.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Brother Jacob
  • Author credits: Eliot, George (1819–1880)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Brothers -- Fiction
  • Confectioners -- Fiction
  • England -- Fiction
  • Impostors and imposture -- Fiction
  • Men with mental disabilities -- Fiction

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: British Literature
  • Category: Novels

Read this edition

View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

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