Diana of the Crossways — Volume 1

by George Meredith

"Diana of the Crossways — Volume 1" by George Meredith is a novel published in 1885, based on socialite Caroline Norton's life. Beautiful and intelligent Diana Warwick becomes entangled in political and social scandal when her efforts to help her husband through a friendship with a Cabinet minister backfire. Attempting to live independently as a writer, she finds her involvement in politics leads to both personal and public catastrophe. The work has been described as a feminist novel exploring themes of women's agency and independence.