The Ordeal of Richard Feverel (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A History of a Father and SonBy George Meredith
Length18h 9m
About this audiobook
The Ordeal of Richard Feverel is George Meredith's incisive "history of a father and son," a novel that anatomizes the disastrous consequences of Sir Austin Feverel's attempt to educate his son Richard according to a rigid, quasi-scientific "System." Combining psychological realism, social comedy, aphoristic brilliance, and melodramatic intensity, Meredith situates private passion within Victorian debates about education, masculinity, marriage, and moral freedom. Its intricate style—witty, allusive, and intellectually charged—marks it as a major work of mid-nineteenth-century fiction, poised between the social novel and the emerging novel of consciousness. Meredith, born in 1828, was a poet, novelist, and penetrating observer of English society whose own life included emotional disruption, an unhappy early marriage, and a sustained skepticism toward conventional domestic ideals. These experiences, together with his interest in temperament, egoism, and social performance, inform the novel's critique of paternal authority and abstract theories imposed upon living human beings. Readers drawn to intellectually demanding fiction will find this novel richly rewarding. It is especially recommended to those interested in Victorian psychology, the comedy of manners, and narratives that expose how idealism, when severed from sympathy, can become a form of tyranny.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreMystery and Thriller, General Fiction
Length18 hrs 9 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 30, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
26CHAPTER XI
2Introduction
27IN WHICH THE LAST ACT OF THE BAKEWELL COMEDY IS CLOSED IN A LETTER
3Synopsis
28CHAPTER XII
4Historical Context
29THE BLOSSOMING SEASON
5INTRODUCTION
30CHAPTER XIII
Show all chaptersShow less
6CHAPTER I
31THE MAGNETIC AGE
7THE INMATES OF RAYNHAM ABBEY
32CHAPTER XIV
8CHAPTER II
33AN ATTRACTION
9SHOWING HOW THE FATES SELECTED THE FOURTEENTH BIRTHDAY TO TRY THE STRENGTH OF THE SYSTEM
34CHAPTER XV
10CHAPTER III
35FERDINAND AND MIRANDA
11THE MAGIAN CONFLICT
36CHAPTER XVI
12CHAPTER IV
37UNMASKING OF MASTER RIPTON THOMPSON
13ARSON
38CHAPTER XVII
14CHAPTER V
39GOOD WINE AND GOOD BLOOD
15ADRIAN PLIES HIS HOOK
40CHAPTER XVIII
16CHAPTER VI
41THE SYSTEM ENCOUNTERS THE WILD OATS SPECIAL PLEA
17JUVENILE STRATAGEMS
42CHAPTER XIX
18CHAPTER VII
43A DIVERSION PLAYED ON A PENNY-WHISTLE
19DAPHNE'S BOWER
44CHAPTER XX
20CHAPTER VIII
45CELEBRATES THE TIME-HONOURED TREATMENT OF A DRAGON BY THE HERO
21THE BITTER CUP
46CHAPTER XXI
22CHAPTER IX
47RICHARD IS SUMMONED TO TOWN TO HEAR A SERMON
23A FINE DISTINCTION
48CHAPTER XXII
24CHAPTER X
49INDICATES THE APPROACHES OF FEVER
25RICHARD PASSES THROUGH HIS PRELIMINARY ORDEAL, AND IS THE OCCASION OF AN APHORISM
50CHAPTER XXIII
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