Rhoda Fleming — Volume 1

"Rhoda Fleming — Volume 1" by George Meredith is a novel written during the late 19th century. The story introduces the Kentish family, particularly focusing on the two sisters, Rhoda and Dahlia, as they navigate their lives within the constraints imposed by their rural upbringing, family dynamics, and societal expectations. The narrative offers a rich tapestry of character exploration and familial relationships, set against the backdrop of rural Kent. The beginning of the novel paints a vivid picture of the Fleming family, specifically revolving around the characters of Mrs. Fleming, a passionate gardener, and her husband, a struggling farmer. The narrative details their contrasting approaches to parenting, particularly regarding their daughters, Rhoda and Dahlia, who strive for a life beyond their rural existence. As they dream of the vibrant life of London, the girls grapple with their own identities and aspirations, influenced by their family's evident struggles, societal gossip, and personal ambitions. Through a tapestry of social interactions and reflections on class and ambition, the opening chapters set a compelling stage for the sisters' journey and the challenges they will face. (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.