The Amazing Marriage — Complete

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

4488

Title

The Amazing Marriage — Complete

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

George Meredith's satirical novel follows the Countess of Cressett, a spirited beauty who elopes with an aging naval hero, and her subsequent marriage to the wealthy but rigid Earl of Fleetwood. Narrated by the chatty Dame Gossip, the story explores themes of social hypocrisy, the clash between nature and convention, and the complexities of love and duty through a series of episodic adventures.

Summary up to 500 words

George Meredith's *The Amazing Marriage* is a satirical novel that critiques the rigid conventions of high society through the lens of the Countess of Cressett, a woman of immense spirit and beauty. The narrative, framed by the chatty Dame Gossip, follows the Countess's tumultuous life, beginning with her advantageous marriage to the Earl of Cressett. Despite her wealthy and handsome husband, she falls passionately for Kirby, the 'Old Buccaneer,' a legendary, battle-hardened man of sixty-five. Their elopement shocks the public, yet Meredith defends the Countess's innocence, portraying her as a victim of societal judgment rather than moral failing. She is driven by a reverence for true heroism and a fierce independence that defies the 'cold sneerers' of the art world and gossip columns. The story shifts to the Countess's subsequent marriage to the Earl of Fleetwood, a union based on wealth and status rather than affection. Fleetwood is a man of rigid principles who struggles to comprehend his wife's autonomy and her deep loyalty to Carinthia, a Welsh gentleman she considers her true friend. The plot intensifies when the Countess disappears during a foreign insurrection in Spain. There, she demonstrates humanitarian courage, nursing the wounded and serving both conflicting armies, earning a reputation for renowned humanity. She eventually returns to England, only to find that her husband has abandoned his title, wealth, and Anglican faith to become a monk in the Welsh mountains. Meredith uses this dramatic trajectory to explore the psychological dynamics between the characters, highlighting the Earl's inability to accept his wife's autonomy and the destructive nature of blind obedience to social norms. Through witty commentary and vivid character sketches, the novel critiques the artificiality of aristocratic life and the dangers of suppressing genuine human connection. The narrative concludes with the Countess's eventual marriage to Owain Wythan, a simple man who woos her with 'dog's eyes' rather than words, symbolizing a return to authentic emotion over societal pretense. Ultimately, the novel champions the enduring power of genuine love and character against the backdrop of political turmoil and personal tragedy.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Marriage