Sandra Belloni — Volume 2

"Sandra Belloni — Volume 2" by George Meredith is a novel written during the late 19th century. This book continues to explore the lives of its characters in a context filled with personal conflicts, social interactions, and commentary on romantic ideals. Central to the narrative is the character of Wilfrid Pole, whose relationships and emotional dilemmas drive much of the plot. The story oscillates between humor, sentiment, and social critique, particularly concerning the British class system and its implications on personal relationships. The opening portion of the book introduces a group of young men from the Hillford Club who are heading to Ipley Common under the pretense of bringing music to their rivals after a morning insult. However, the atmosphere quickly escalates into chaos as alcohol-fueled tensions lead to conflict. Wilfrid Pole’s character is further developed as he grapples with his feelings for Emilia, who is performing at the common. Despite the light-hearted intention of the Hillford men, their visit devolves into a raucous confrontation, showcasing both the comedic and tumultuous elements of social gatherings of the time. Emilia’s emotional turmoil and her connection with both Wilfrid and Captain Gambier hint at deeper themes of love, reputation, and the complexities of human relationships that will unfold throughout the narrative. (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.