First published in 1862,
Modern Lovewas immediately seen as strikingly – if not shockingly – original in its treatment of intense emotions. Since then it has continued to confront readers with blistering psychological frankness and ironic social comment in a style remarkable for its versatility. The failure of Meredith’s first marriage was the occasion for this series of fifty 16-line poems which Meredith himself referred to as sonnets, although they do not conform to the usual 14-line form used by Sidney, Shakespeare and Milton. Meredith had met the recently-widowed Mary Ellen Nicolls, daughter of novelist Thomas Love Peacock, in 1848 and had married her the following year when he was 21 and she 27. Nine years later Mary began an affair with Henry Wallis, a painter for whom…
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Citation: Spencer, Luke. "Modern Love". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 16 July 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=10358, accessed 18 April 2024.]
