The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Volume 1

"The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Volume 1" by George Meredith is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story primarily follows the life of Harry Richmond, a boy caught in the tumultuous relationships between his father, Mr. Richmond, and his grandfather, Squire Beltham, as well as the challenges of love and identity. The narrative delves into themes of familial conflict, societal expectations, and personal growth. At the start of the book, the reader is introduced to Riversley Grange and its inhabitants, including the squire and his family. The narrative kicks off with a late-night disturbance leading to the arrival of a mysterious gentleman, Mr. Richmond, who is revealed to be Harry's estranged father. The squire's initial hostility toward him paints a vivid picture of past grievances and familial strife as Mr. Richmond seeks to reconnect with his wife and son amidst fierce opposition from the squire. This dramatic encounter sets the stage for Harry's complex relationship with both his father and grandfather and hints at the adventures and challenges awaiting him as he navigates through this intricate familial web. (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.