One of Our Conquerors — Volume 2

"One of Our Conquerors — Volume 2" by George Meredith is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story continues to explore the intricate relationships and societal dynamics among its characters, particularly focusing on Nataly, Victor, and the implications of impending marriage for their daughter Nesta. The narrative delves deeply into themes of love, societal expectations, and the struggle for personal autonomy in the face of familial obligations. At the start of the volume, the reader is introduced to the intimate yet fraught dynamics between Victor and Nataly as they navigate the challenges of parenthood and societal pressures regarding their daughter’s future. There is an emphasis on the emotional tension stemming from their attempts to openly discuss crucial matters while grappling with unspoken fears about the impact of their pasts on Nesta. The opening chapters also hint at the larger social implications of class and reputation as Victor considers the suitability of potential suitors for Nesta while dealing with his own conflicted feelings about the past and future. The sense of impending decisions looms large, setting the stage for further exploration of these complex relationships. (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.