{{Short description|1861 novel by George Meredith}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Italic title}} thumb|First edition title page {{Wikisource}} '''''Evan Harrington''''' is an 1861 novel by George Meredith, a glowing comedy of Victorian presumptions.
==Setting and plot== The second of Meredith's 'mainstream' novels, the work is loosely autobiographical in inspiration;<ref>D Daiches ed., ''Companion to Literature 1'' (London 1963) p. 358</ref> and concerns the social climbing family (three married daughters; one unmarried son) of the recently deceased tailor, Melchisedec (The Great Mel) Harrington.<ref>I Ousby ed., ''Cambridge Guide to Literature in English'' (Cambridge 1995) p. 312</ref>
==Characters== Two of Meredith's most notable comic creations - The Great Mel and his daughter Louisa, the scheming Countess of Saldar - appear in the book.<ref>D Daiches ed., ''Companion to Literature 1'' (London 1963) p. 358</ref> Among lesser comic figures are Jack Raikes and Mr Parsley.<ref>I Ousby ed., ''Cambridge Guide to Literature in English'' (Cambridge 1995) p. 312</ref>
The love interest of the hero, Evan - who is urged up the social ladder by his three sisters - is Rose Jocelyn:<ref>I Ousby ed., ''Cambridge Guide to Literature in English'' (Cambridge 1995) p. 312</ref> she was taken as the epitome of mid-Victorian womanhood by the scholar Henry Sidgwick.<ref>G M Young, ''Victorian England'' (London 1964) p. 155</ref>
==See also== *Lady Anna
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{George Meredith}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Novels by George Meredith Category:1860 British novels Category:Works originally published in Once a Week (magazine)
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