George Meredith
Novelist
A Victorian novelist and poet, he is best known for his 1862 poetry collection, Modern Love. His novels include Diana of the Crossways and The Shaving of Shagpat.
He studied law before deciding to pursue poetic and journalistic careers. He published his first literary work, Poems, in 1851.
He was the artist's model for The Death of Chatterton, a painting by Henry Wallis. Incidentally, Wallis had an affair with Meredith's first wife.
He married Mary Ellen Nicolls in 1849. He wed his second wife, Marie Vulliamy, in 1864.
He was a favorite novelist of the their author and playwright Oscar Wilde.