Evan Harrington (A Novel)

When Mel Harrington, a lowly tailor with the manners of a nobleman, passes away, he leaves a considerable amount of debt. Though his three daughters all married into rich families, they cut contact with their father long before his death, due to his social status as a common tradesman. Valuing their status and the perks it privileges them with, the daughters want the same for their brother, Evan. To achieve this, they set him up with a beautiful and rich woman named Rose. Though they were paired together for financial reasons at first, Rose and Evan share an intimate bond. However, when Evan learns of his father’s debts, he cannot let them go unsettled. Worried for his mother and his father’s legacy, Evan moves to London to learn his father’s trade, despite the social repercussions. While Evan works hard to restore honor to his father’s name, his sisters try to convince him otherwise, concerned that he would lose Rose’s love. Struggling to manage his father’s legacy while protecting his social status, Evan must determine his own priority, whether it be love, power, or legacy.

Written by the Nobel Prize nominated author, George Meredith, Evan Harrington is comedic romance that exposes the shallow ideals of Victorian high society. Loosely autobiographical, Evan Harrington portrays vivid and complex characters while granting readers an intimate view on the hierarchy of Victorian society. With themes of class, marriage, family, and love, Evan Harrington is a sentimental narrative that captures the heart of its audience even over a century after its original publication.

This edition of Evan Harrington by George Meredith features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring this sentimental Victorian romance to modern standards while preserving the original mastery of George Meredith’s work.