The Ordeal of Richard Feverel — Volume 1

"The Ordeal of Richard Feverel — Volume 1" by George Meredith is a novel written in the late 19th century. The book delves into the complexities of education, upbringing, and the trials of youth through the life of Richard Feverel, a boy facing the challenges of growing up under unconventional parenting. At the start of the narrative, we are introduced to the household of Raynham Abbey where Richard Feverel lives. The opening chapters set the stage by exploring the tumultuous backdrop of his father's life, Sir Austin Feverel, who grapples with the consequences of love and betrayal, as well as the influences of various family members and acquaintances. The story hints at Richard's impending conflicts, both external and internal, particularly as he navigates friendships, rivalries, and his own sense of identity amidst the expectations of rigid social norms. The tone oscillates between earnestness and irony, establishing a reflective atmosphere that invites readers to ponder the deeper implications of growing up within a flawed system. (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.