About this book
George Meredith's The Sentimentalists delivers a witty, unfinished comedy that skewers Victorian manners with the author’s characteristic verbal sparkle. Set in a shaded Surrey garden about sixty years earlier, this fragmentary play assembles a gallery of eccentric figures—Professor Spiral, the pompous orator; Homeware, the guarded uncle; Arden, the earnest suitor; and Astraea, the object of affection—whose conversations and comic misunderstandings expose the era’s sentimental pretensions.
Blending sharp social satire with theatrical flourish, Meredith dissects themes of marriage, gender roles, and the theatricality of “refined” feeling. The work reads like a stage comedy and a piece of Victorian literature at once: cleverly constructed dialogue, stage directions, and philosophical asides create a lively portrait of upper‑class society while leaving much to the imagination because the play remains unfinished. Its humor is both gentle and caustic, revealing how sentiment can be performed, studied, and undermined.
Perfect for listeners who love classic literature, comic drama, or Victorian social satire, this audiobook offers a taste of Meredith’s intelligence and wit—an engaging listen for anyone intrigued by the intersection of comedy and 19th‑century social critique.
