George Meredith was an English novelist and poet during the Victorian era. Meredith was a prolific writer and he stood out as one of the great authors of comedy of his time. With classics such as The Egoist, Diana of the Crossways, and The Ordeal of Richard Feverel, Meredith remains a popular author today.

The Egoist, published in 1879, is a novel that tells the story of a self-absorbed man and his attempts at marriage. The book is notable for describing some of the difficulties women faced in Victorian society.