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George Gissings
A Brief Biography
Gissing was born at Wakefield, Yorkshire on November 22nd 1857. Not much is know about Gissing's early years, but it is know that the death of his father, a chemist, left Gissing heartbroken, although he never really cared for his mother. Gissing was an extraordinarily bright child. When he was just 15 he won a scholarship to Owens College, Manchester, where he did exceedingly well. He then moved on to London University, where it seemed he was destined for a life of scholarly leisure. However, his life was dramatically changed when he was caught stealing from the coat room of the University. He was arrested, expelled, and forced to do a month of labor. The reason for his crime was his desire to reform the prostitute Nell Harrison who he was in love with. After his disgrace, which left him uncomfortable with his own history, he traveled to America to start a new life. However, he soon became disillusioned with America and nearly starved to death. In 1877 he traveled back to England and married Nell. His life with Nell was a living hell. Nell developed a love of alcohol and often reverted to her old job to pay for her expensive habits. Gissing eventually paid Nell to live away from him, and Nell died in 1888. Gissing married Edith Underwood in 1891, and proceeded to hate a second marriage. With Edith Gissing had two children, but unfortunately that did nothing to soothe the discomforts of his married life so Gissing left Edith. Eventually Gissing did find someone he could be happy with. Gabrielle Fleury was a French translator who Gissing fell in love with. Unfortunately he could not legally marry her because he was still married to Edith. Gissing and Fleury lived together until Gissing's death on December 28th 1903.
The Odd Women
The Odd Women is considered by many to be one of George Gissings best works, possibly second only to New Grub Street. This book received a large increase in readership in the sixties because of its apparent feminist subject matter. And yes, it does deal with a very controversial Victorian subject, but even if the book was devoid of its controversy it would still be worth reading because of Gissings honest approach to realism and his writing style.