This novel follows the fortunes of a young man who struggles to overcome his humble origins and enter the upper echelons of society. Along the way, he falls in love with a wealthy heiress and must navigate the complexities of class and social expectations. George Meredith was a Victorian-era writer known for his psychological insight and social commentary. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.