George Meredith's Rhoda Fleming is a tremendous work of literature that takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster and, unlike other books, has no qualms about portraying tragedy in all its real colors and spirit. The reader will believe that he has known each character in this novel for a very long time because of how well Meredith has mastered the technique of character development. Whether it's Anthony's sense of failure, the bank porter, or the very contemptuous Algernon, Meredith creates the flaws in his protagonists' personalities with great care and patience. The layers of Rhoda Fleming, which are dispersed throughout several parts, are revealed to the reader with each new page. The reader is left with a sea of emotions that is overpowering by Rhoda Fleming. The defining qualities of this masterpiece are poignancy and sorrow even though it is compelling and fast-paced.
During the Victorian era, Meredith read law, and people articled him as a solicitor, but shortly after marrying Mary Ellen Nicolls, a 30-year-old widowed daughter of Thomas Love Peacock, in 1849 at 21 years of age, he abandoned that profession for journalism.
He collected his early writings, first published in periodicals, into Poems, which was published to some acclaim in 1851. His wife left him and their five-year old son in 1858; she died three years later. Her departure was the inspiration for The Ordeal of Richard Feverel (1859), his first "major novel." It was considered a breakthrough novel, but its sexual frankness caused a scandal and prevented it from being widely read.
As an advisor to publishers, Meredith is credited with helping Thomas Hardy start his literary career, and was an early associate of J. M. Barrie. Before his death, Meredith was honored from many quarters: he succeeded Lord Tennyson as president of the Society of Authors; in 1905 he was appointed to the Order of Merit by King Edward VII.
His works include: The Shaving of Shagpat (1856), Farina (1857), Vittoria (1867) and The Egoist (1879). The Egoist is one of his most enduring works.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Subiectul este interesant, povestea are un parfum de epoca si scoate in evidenta tarele diferitelor clase sociale. Personajele sunt foarte bine conturate. Mi-a placut modul de punctare a contrastului dintre clasele sociale engleze ale secolului 19, diferenta de stil, de limbaj, de atitudine. Totusi, numele cartii nu este tocmai bine ales intrucat Rhoda nu este singurul personaj principal. Actiunea se invarte in jurul celor 2 familii: una din inalta societate si una de fermieri. Limbajul este uneori greoi, prea incarcat si cu subintelesuri.