Vittoria — Volume 3

"Vittoria — Volume 3" by George Meredith is a novel written during the late 19th century. The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of political intrigue and personal passion in Italy, with a focus on the titular character, Vittoria, and her companion Carlo Ammiani, who traverse their intertwined fates in a time of unrest. The story contemplates themes of nationalism, love, and the struggles of the individual against societal pressures, particularly through the lens of art and personal sacrifice. At the start of the narrative, Carlo Ammiani escorts Vittoria to the Maestro's door, establishing a tense atmosphere that hints at the conflicts and intense emotions that will unfold. Their conversation reveals both their personal histories and a sense of impending turmoil as they navigate their patriotism and aspirations for Italy's future. Vittoria expresses a fervent desire to contribute to the cause of Italian freedom, yet struggles with the weight of her duty and the reality of the challenges ahead. The opening also introduces other characters, including Luigi, a spy, and Antonio-Pericles, who represent different facets of the societal and political landscape, setting the stage for the tensions and conflicts that will develop throughout the story. Overall, the beginning captures the essence of a dramatic journey towards self-realization and national identity amidst the throes of societal upheaval. (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.