The Shaving of Shagpat

by George Meredith

Overview

The Shaving of Shagpat isn't just George Meredith's first published novel, it's also his only foray into fantasy literature. Shagpat sold poorly in its day despite good reviews, and after its disappointing sales Meredith pursed a career as a writer of romantic fiction instead. Despite its poor financial reception, Shagpat enjoys a good modern reputation and remains a classic of fantasy literature, with George Eliot going so far as to call it a "work of genius." The book is set in the medieval fantasy-Persia of the Arabian Nights and other oriental romances. Shibli Bagarag, a poor but talented barber, encounters a mystical crone named Noorna. Together they embark on a quest to save the city of Shagpat from a tyrant who holds the city under his command by virtue of the powers of his magical hair. On the way they battle genies and afreets, save princesses, hunt for treasures, and so on. Meredith's language is purposefully florid, evoking the richness of the setting, and his frequent usage of quotations and aphorisms from "the poet" give the fantasy a decidedly literate air.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9791041806553
Publisher:	Culturea
Publication date:	04/11/2023
Pages:	322
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x 0.72(d)

About the Author

George Meredith (1828 - 1909) was an English novelist and poet of the Victorian era. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature seven times. In 1868 Meredith was introduced to Thomas Hardy by Frederic Chapman of Chapman & Hall the publishers. Hardy had submitted his first novel, The Poor Man and the Lady. Meredith advised Hardy not to publish his book as it would be attacked by reviewers and destroy his hopes of becoming a novelist. Meredith felt the book was too bitter a satire on the rich and counselled Hardy to put it aside and write another 'with a purely artistic purpose' and more of a plot. Meredith spoke from experience; his first big novel, The Ordeal of Richard Feverel, was judged so shocking that Mudie's circulating library had cancelled an order of 300 copies. Hardy continued in his attempts to publish the novel, however, it remained unpublished, though he clearly took Meredith's advice seriously. Before his death, Meredith was honored from many quarters: he succeeded Lord Tennyson as president of the Society of Authors; in 1905 he was appointed to the Order of Merit by King Edward VII.