The Egoist

Sir Willoughby Patterne is a man of wealth, charm, and impeccable manners—but beneath the polished surface lies an ego so immense it demands total devotion from everyone around him. When he becomes engaged to the spirited Clara Middleton, she at first seems the perfect match. Yet as Clara begins to see the suffocating control behind his gallantry, she realizes she must either surrender her own will or risk everything to break free. Set among the drawing rooms and country estates of Victorian England, *The Egoist* is a razor-sharp comedy about pride, possession, and the painful art of self-awareness. This retelling renders Meredith's classic social satire in vivid, contemporary prose, preserving its psychological insight while shedding the dense period style. Part of Timeless Classics.