Diana of the Crossways — Volume 5

by George Meredith

"Diana of the Crossways — Volume 5" by George Meredith is the fifth volume of a novel published in 1885. Based on the life of socialite Caroline Norton, it follows Diana Warwick, a beautiful and intelligent but hotheaded woman caught in political and social scandal. Her attempts to advance her husband's career through friendship with a Cabinet Minister lead to alienation, while her efforts to live independently through writing ultimately bring personal and public grief. The story explores women's limited agency in Victorian society.