It may, however, be added that in this remarkable central period, and in the most central part of it from 1840 to 1860, there appeared the first remarkable novel of Mr.George Meredith, _The Ordeal of Richard Feverel_ (1859), first of a brilliant series that was to illustrate the whole remaining years of the century; and the isolated masterpiece of _Phantastes_, which another prolific writer, George Macdonald, was never to repeat; while Mrs.Oliphant and Mrs.Craik, both of whom will also reappear in the next chapter, began as early as 1849.
In 1851 appeared the first of two remarkable books, _Lavengro_ and _The Romany Rye_, in which George Borrow, if he did not exactly create, brought to perfection from some points of view what may be called the autobiographic novel.
Indeed the memory of the aged and the industry of the young could recall or rediscover dozens and scores of noteworthy books, some of which have not lost actual or traditional reputation, such as the _Paul Ferroll_ (1855) of Mrs.Archer Clive, a well-restrained crime-novel, the story of which is indicated in the title of its sequel, _Why Paul Ferroll killed his Wife_.

Henry Kingsley, George Alfred Lawrence, Wilkie Collins, and others began their careers at this time.

The best book ever written about school, _Tom Brown's School Days_ (1857), and the best book in lighter vein ever written about Oxford, _Mr.Verdant Green_ (1853-1856), both appeared in the fifties.
Although, indeed, the intenser and more individual genius of the great novelists of this time went rather higher than the specialist novel, it was, in certain directions, well cultivated during this period.

Men likely to write naval novels of merit were dying out, and though Lever took up the military tale, at second hand, with brilliant results, the same historical causes were in operation there.

But a comparatively new kind--the "sporting" novel--developed itself largely and in some cases went beyond mere sport.