Sir Willoughby Patterne, rich, fashionable and fatuous.is The Egoist. He pursues three women, each more discerning than he, with little thought for anything but the fulfilment of his own desires and the gratification of his own vanity that will come from a prestigious marriage. Clara Middleton is one of the three, but she wil not be dominated by a man and is determined to assert her own value and values.

Meredith’s aim was to create a comedy, and there is indeed much to laugh at in this superbly comic tale.Yet with an impressive variety of skills, he satirizes many of the assumptions that prevailed in his time and raises issues of profound and enduring relevance.

Published in 1879, The Egoist was George Meredith’s ninth novel.Much acclaimed by contemporary authors, it is still acknowledged today as one of his finest achievements. Meredith’s searching analysis of self-deception in The Egoist, coupled with a rare understanding of both the psychological and the physical aspects of human feeling, are well ahead of his time and ensure that the novel will not be forgotten.

Prelude: A Chapter of which the Last Page Only is of Importance

A Minor Incident Showing an Hereditary Aptitude in the Use of the Knife

The Young Sir Willoughby

Constantia Durham

L,etitia Dale

Clara Middleton

His Courtship

The Betrothed

A Run with the Truant: A Walk with the Master

Clara and L, etitia Meet: They are Compared

In which Sir Willoughby Chances to Supply theTitle for Himself

The Double-blossom Wild Cherry-tree

Miss Middleton and Mr Vernon Wbitford

The First Effort after Freedom

Sir Willoughby and Letitia

The Petition for a Release

Clara and L,etitia

The Porcelain Vase

Colonel De Craye

Colonel De Craye and Clara Middleton

An Aged and Great Wine

Clara’s Meditations

The Ride

Treats of the Union of Temper and Policy

Contains an Inrtance of the Generosity of Willougbby

The Flight in Wild Weather

Vernon in Pursuit

At the Railway Station

The Return

In which the Sensitiveness of Sir Willoughby is Explained: and He Receives Much Inrtrnction

Treating of the Dinner-party at Mrs Mountstuart Jenkinson ’ s

Sir Willoughby Attempts and Acbieves Pathos

Letitia Dale Discovers a Spiritual Change and Dr Middleton a Physical

In which the Comic Muse has an Eye on Two Good Souls

Mrs Mountstuart and Sir Willoughby

Miss Middleton and Mrs Mountstuart

Animated Conversation at a Luncheon-table

Contains Clever Fencing and Intimations of the Need For it

In which We Take a Step to the Centre of Egoism

In the Heart of the Egoist

Midnight: Sir Willoughby and Letitia:with Young Crossjay under a Coverlet

The Revd Dr Middleton, Clara and Sir Willoughby

Shows the Divining Arts of a Perceptive Mind

In which Sir Willoughby is Led To Think that the Elements Have Compired Against Him

Dr Middleton: the Ladies Eleanor and Isabel:and Mr Dale

The Patterne Ladies: Mr Dale: Lady Busshe and Lady Culmer: with Mrs Mountstuart Jenkinson

The Scene of Sir Willougbby ’s Generalship

Sir Willoughby and His Friend Horace De Craye

The Lovers

L, etitia and Sir Willoughby

Upon which the Curtain Falls