New Grub Street

New Grub Street

New Grub Street is known as

George Robert Gissing’s best and most

respected novel. This masterpiece gives its

readers a taste of the anti-idealistic

principle that is shown all throughout Grub

Street. This society that Gissing has

mirrored from his own life experience is one

that revolves around selfishness and money.

The reader is supposed to understand that

the art of literature cannot exist without

good economic means.

The term Grub Street continues to be used in reference to authors and journalists who are compelled to struggle desperately to make a bare livelihood, and also to those who have no scruples about what they write so long as it brings them profit or popularity (Ward 32).

The novel’s two main characters are Edwin Reardon and Jasper Milvain who just happen to be complete opposites. Edwin is the protagonist who is full of self-pity, brains, and insecurities. He faced poverty and loneliness when he found himself unable to write for social popularity and reputation. Jasper was insensitive and practical. His business like qualities led him to success instead of sheer talent. Charming and ambitious – he shrewdly calculated and did everything that could bring him to success. Morals did not matter nearly as much as being rich.

New Grub Street was first published in 1891. It was Gissing’s ninth book out of twenty-three as well as being his most important and enduring work. Smith, Elder, & Co published it in three volumes (Gissing 1). This was his first novel that sold quite well. There was a second printing within one month and two subsequent editions in hardly less than a year. Although the book did very well, Gissing still faced poverty because the copyright was sold ...

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...le to make such an impact on its readers. All throughout Grub Street the reader is able to take notice of those with money and less morals and values get ahead while the good guy is left behind. After reading this novel it is easy to see how art can finally be valued. Gissing has undoubtedly shown through his writing that certain important literary men have gone unnoticed and unappreciated.

Works Cited

Dimauro, Laurie, ed. Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Vol. 47. Detroit: Gale Research Inc.,1993. 130 vols.

Gissing, George. New Grub Street. NY: Random House, 2002.

Michaux, Jean-Pierre, ed. George Gissing: Critical Essays. London: Vision Press Limited,1981.

Selig, Robert. George Gissing. Twayne's English Authors Ser. 346. NY: Twayne's Publishers, 1995.

Ward, A.C. Gissing: Writers and Their Work. Vol. III. NY: Longmans, Green & Co, 1959.