Rhoda Fleming — Volume 3

"Rhoda Fleming — Volume 3" by George Meredith is a novel written during the late 19th century, part of the Victorian literary tradition. The book focuses on a complex interplay of societal expectations, romantic entanglements, and the struggles of its characters, with a particular emphasis on Edward and Algernon as they navigate their relationships and the pressures exerted by women like Mrs. Lovell, leading to dramatic confrontations and moral dilemmas. The opening portion of the narrative sets the stage for a tense atmosphere in which personal honor and societal perceptions clash. It primarily introduces Edward, who is faced with the consequences of his actions regarding a rival, Robert, and the confounding influence of Mrs. Lovell, who seems to manipulate the dynamics among the men. As Algernon expresses his desire to defend his honor by challenging Robert, the narrative delves into the complex emotions of jealousy, masculinity, and the ingrained notions of valor. This section hints at deeper relationships among characters as they prepare for potential dueling and confront their feelings about love, duty, and social standing. (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.