George Meredith is undoubtedly the most unjustly under-appreciated 19th century British novelist. His repuation has fallen not for want of high praise, but for want of readers. He was and remains a highbrow author, a writer whose comedy was not too sophisticated for the average reader, but whose prose sometimes (too often?) was. Chaos and lightning! That's how Oscar Wilde characterized his work, and I agree.

I'm by no means an expert in his work, having only taken on a novel or two. But I aim to take on them all. For one thing, Meredith does one of the things I wish all novelists would do: contrive a brilliant opening. A great first sentence, or paragraph, or scene. I want to be drawn in from the first words. And Meredith usually does this. No boring opening lines for him.

Take The Amazing Marriage, one of his lesser works, by most critics' accounting. Take the first sentence:

Everybody has heard of the beautiful Countess of Cressett, who was one of the lights of this country at the time when crowned heads were running over Europe, crying out for charity's sake to be amused after their tiresome work of slaughter; and you know what a dread they have of moping.

Yes, it's a longish sentence. True, it will vex the Hemingway slaves. And perhaps that clash of imagery, with crowned heads said to be running, will make some wince. But I suspect that was part of Meredith's aim. He aimed to amuse, and even the conflict of imagery amuses. The whole thing admirably starts the novel in question.

I want to read more, anyway.