"Griffith Gaunt; or, Jealousy" (1865–66) is a Victorian novel by Charles Reade. Set in Cumberland's Lake District, it follows Griffith Gaunt, an Anglican gentleman who marries Mercy Vint, a devout Catholic woman. Their initially loving marriage is poisoned by Griffith's pathological jealousy, especially toward Father George Neville, a Catholic priest and Mercy's old friend. Swept along by misunderstanding and irrational suspicion, Griffith abandons his wife and marries Kate Peyton, unknowingly committing bigamy. When Mercy falls gravely ill, Griffith returns to nurse her selflessly until her death, after which he lawfully weds Kate. The novel vividly examines jealousy, religious conflict, remorse, and redemption.
