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Diana of the Crossways by George Meredith

George Meredith published *Diana of the Crossways* in 1885, a novel that arrived with the weight of contemporary scandal yet stands today as a profound…

Diana of the Crossways by George Meredith
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Runtime: 16 hr 45 min · Watch the full audiobook on YouTube · Subscribe to Ion Books

George Meredith published *Diana of the Crossways* in 1885, a novel that arrived with the weight of contemporary scandal yet stands today as a profound meditation on female agency. Rooted in the real-life controversies surrounding Caroline Norton, the narrative examines the precarious position of intelligent women navigating a society that prizes reputation over truth. Meredith, known for his syntactically complex prose and psychological depth, constructs a story where gossip acts as both weapon and mirror. The protagonist, Diana Warwick, finds herself trapped between marital expectation and intellectual independence, her life unraveling under the gaze of a judgmental public. This is not merely a tale of social maneuvering but an exploration of how identity survives when stripped of external validation. The novel’s enduring power lies in its refusal to offer easy resolutions, instead presenting a nuanced portrait of resilience. It invites readers to witness the quiet courage required to define oneself outside of societal prescription. As you listen and follow the text, consider how Meredith’s intricate dialogue reveals the inner lives of characters often silenced by convention.

Summary generated by AI model Qwen 3

Public domain & narration

Diana of the Crossways was first published in 1885. Works first published before 1931 are in the public domain in the United States, so the text is free to read, share and adapt. The edition shown here comes from Project Gutenberg, which publishes only books that are in the US public domain.

The narration is the LibriVox recording read by 13 volunteer readers, including Jim Locke, KHand and Lisa Reichert. LibriVox volunteers dedicate their recordings to the public domain.

Ion Books adds the synchronized scrolling text and video, so you can read along while you listen, for free.

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Chapters

  1. Chapter 1: Of Diaries and Diarists Touching the Heroine (37:12) · watch
  2. Chapter 2: An Irish Ball (26:05) · watch
  3. Chapter 3: The Interior of Mr. Redworth, and the Exterior of Mr. Sullivan Smith (18:16) · watch
  4. Chapter 4: Containing Hints of Diana's Experiences and of what They Led to (31:16) · watch
  5. Chapter 5: Concerning the Scrupulous Gentleman who Came Too Late (22:36) · watch
  6. Chapter 6: The Couple (20:42) · watch
  7. Chapter 7: The Crisis (20:55) · watch
  8. Chapter 8: In which is Exhibited How a Practical Man and a Divining Woman Learn to Respect One Another (33:54) · watch
  9. Chapter 9: Shows How a Position of Delicacy for a Lady and Gentleman was Met in Simple Fashion Without Hurt to Either (20:51) · watch
  10. Chapter 10: The Conflict of the Night (11:00) · watch
  11. Chapter 11: Recounts the Journey in a Chariot, with a Certain Amount of Dialogue, and a Small Incident on the Road (16:35) · watch
  12. Chapter 12: Between Emma and Diana (15:03) · watch
  13. Chapter 13: Touching the First Days of Her Probation (22:10) · watch
  14. Chapter 14: Giving Glimpses of Diana Under Her Cloud Before the World and of Her Further Apprenticeship (33:39) · watch
  15. Chapter 15: Introduces the Hon. Percy Dacier (28:26) · watch
  16. Chapter 16: Treats of a Midnight Bell, and of a Scene of Early Morning (35:02) · watch
  17. Chapter 17: 'The Princess Egeria' (25:37) · watch
  18. Chapter 18: The Authoress (21:00) · watch
  19. Chapter 19: A Drive in Sunlight and a Drive in Moonlight (26:06) · watch
  20. Chapter 20: Diana a Night-Watch in the Chamber of Death (19:36) · watch
  21. Chapter 21: 'The Young Minister of State' (25:17) · watch
  22. Chapter 22: Between Diana and Dacier: The Wind East Over Bleak Land (18:07) · watch
  23. Chapter 23: Records a Visit to Diana from One of the World’s Good Women (20:25) · watch
  24. Chapter 24: Indicates a Soul Prepared for Desperation (15:25) · watch
  25. Chapter 25: Once More the Crossways and a Change of Turnings (19:42) · watch
  26. Chapter 26: In which a Disappointed Lover Receives a Multitude of Lessons (27:35) · watch
  27. Chapter 27: Contains Matter for Subsequent Explosion (36:27) · watch
  28. Chapter 28: Dialogue Round the Subject of a Portrait, with Some Indications of the Task for Diana (30:59) · watch
  29. Chapter 29: Shows the Approaches of the Political and the Domestic Crisis in Company (34:10) · watch
  30. Chapter 30: In which There is a Taste of a Little Dinner and an Aftertaste (20:29) · watch
  31. Chapter 31: A Chapter Containing Great Political News and Therewith an Intrusion of the Love-God (11:29) · watch
  32. Chapter 32: Wherein We Behold a Giddy Turn at the Spectral Crossways (14:03) · watch
  33. Chapter 33: Exhibits the Springing of a Mine in a Newspaper Article (15:32) · watch
  34. Chapter 34: In which it is Darkly Seen How the Criminal's Judge May Be Love's Criminal (17:34) · watch
  35. Chapter 35: Reveals How the True Heroine of Romance Comes Finally to Her, Time of Triumph (21:53) · watch
  36. Chapter 36: Is Conclusive as to the Heartlessness of Women with Brains (21:02) · watch
  37. Chapter 37: An Exhibition of Some Champions of the Stricken Lady (22:31) · watch
  38. Chapter 38: Convalescence of a Healthy Mind Distraught (14:41) · watch
  39. Chapter 39: Of Nature with One of Her Cultivated Daughters and a Short Excursion in Anti-Climax (30:07) · watch
  40. Chapter 40: In which We See Nature Making of a Woman a Maid Again, and a Thrice Whimsical (25:56) · watch
  41. Chapter 41: Contains a Revelation of the Origin of the Tigress in Diana (18:42) · watch
  42. Chapter 42: The Penultimate: Showing a Final Struggle for Liberty and Run into Harness (24:42) · watch
  43. Chapter 43: Nuptial Chapter; and of How a Barely Willing Woman was Led to Bloom with the Nuptial Sentiment (32:27) · watch

Full text

This work is too long to show on one page. Read it on Project Gutenberg · download ebook.txt

Sources

Raw pipeline data (admin)