Description
“New Grub Street” by George Gissing is a novel published in 1891 that provides a critical portrayal of the literary world in late-Victorian England. The story revolves around the struggles of writers and intellectuals trying to make a living in London’s literary marketplace.
The novel primarily follows the lives of two aspiring writers, Edwin Reardon and Jasper Milvain. Reardon is a talented but financially struggling novelist, while Milvain is a pragmatic and ambitious literary critic. As they navigate the challenges of the publishing industry, they encounter various characters representing different facets of the literary world, including publishers, journalists, and fellow writers.
“New Grub Street” explores themes such as the tension between artistic integrity and commercial success, the harsh realities of poverty and social mobility, and the complexities of human relationships. It offers a searing critique of the commercialization of literature and the pressures faced by writers to cater to popular tastes at the expense of their artistic vision.
The novel is regarded as one of George Gissing’s most significant works and remains relevant for its incisive commentary on the challenges facing artists in a competitive and often unforgiving society.
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