Vittoria — Volume 6

"Vittoria — Volume 6" by George Meredith is a historical novel likely written in the late 19th century. It unfolds against the backdrop of revolutionary Italy, examining themes of war, patriotism, and personal conflict through the lives of its characters. The narrative introduces several main characters, including the resolute Wilfrid Pierson and the enigmatic Rinaldo Guidascarpi, as they navigate their loyalties and struggles during a time of political turmoil. The opening of the novel immerses the reader in the tense atmosphere of Milan amid the Tobacco Riots, where social unrest brews as civilians protest against tobacco use by the occupying forces. Amid the chaos, we meet Wilfrid, who becomes embroiled in the conflict as he interacts with Rinaldo and a woman serving in a cigar shop, showcasing the stark divide between the Italian populace and the Austrians. As the story unfolds, we witness the violent confrontations that erupt in the streets and the impact on soldiers and citizens alike, with Wilfrid's character facing physical danger and moral dilemmas. The chapter sets an intense stage for unfolding personal and political dramas, hinting at larger themes of vengeance, loyalty, and the human cost of revolution. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

George Meredith was an English novelist and poet of the Victorian era. At first, his focus was poetry, influenced by John Keats among others, but Meredith gradually established a reputation as a novelist. The Ordeal of Richard Feverel (1859) briefly scandalised Victorian literary circles. Of his later novels, the most enduring is The Egoist (1879), though in his lifetime his greatest success was Diana of the Crossways (1885). His novels were innovative in their attention to characters' psychology, and also portrayed social change. His style, in both poetry and prose, was noted for its syntactic complexity; Oscar Wilde likened it to "chaos illumined by brilliant flashes of lightning". Meredith was an encourager of other novelists, as well as an influence on them; among those to benefit were Robert Louis Stevenson and George Gissing. Meredith was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature seven times.