George Gissing Bücher

Das Italienbuch des sozialkritischen englischen Schriftstellers George Gissing (1857 - 1903) ist ein klassisches Werk der englischen Reiseliteratur. Gissings Reise entlang der wilden Küste südlich von Neapel und durch Kalabrien im November 1897 lag abseits der großen Ziele der Italienbesucher am Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts; hier in der „Magna Graecia“, an den Küsten des Ionischen Meeres, lag das Land seiner Sehsucht. Um sein inneres Verlangen nach der Welt der Griechen und Römer und ihrer klassischen Stätten zu stillen, nahm er alle Gefahren einer solchen Reise durch malariaverseuchte Landstriche und auf unsicheren Straßen auf sich. Hier findet er die Reste der antiken Welt, die ihn seit seiner Jugendzeit faszinierte, aber er trifft auch auf die Menschen, die das gegenwärtige Kalabrien bewohnen und innerhalb des sich der Moderne öffnenden Italiens am Rande stehen. Ein bewegendes Buch über einen auch heute noch vergessenen Winkel Italiens, mit genauer Menschenbeobachtung und mit fesselnden Landschaftsschilderungen, geschrieben in einer klangvollen Sprache.

In the Year of Jubilee is a romance novel by George Gissing, featuring the enchanting and sensual journey of Nancy Lord, a suburban heroine exploring romantic imagination and sexual initiation.

Focusing on urban social issues, this novel explores the harsh realities of poverty, cultural deprivation, class struggles, the tyranny of money, and women's roles in society. George Gissing employs his literary skill and personal insights to create a passionate and dramatic narrative. Originally published in 1880 as a three-volume work, this modern edition includes a comprehensive critical introduction and detailed scholarly notes, enhancing the reader's understanding of its themes and context.

Set in late 19th-century England, the story follows Richard Mutimer, an idealistic young man who champions social justice and labor rights. As he becomes deeply involved in the labor movement, he faces the stark realities of class disparity and economic exploitation. Gissing vividly portrays the brutal conditions faced by industrial workers while exploring themes of love, ambition, and societal change. The novel intricately examines personal relationships against the backdrop of social conventions, showcasing Gissing's commitment to addressing pressing social issues.

Set against a backdrop of nature and introspection, this semi-fictional autobiographical work features an editor curating the diary of a deceased friend. The essays reflect a deep appreciation for the natural world and offer candid critiques of society and politics. Its classic and straightforward style made it popular in Japan, especially among young scholars, since its introduction in 1908. The book's seasonal arrangement and Ryecroft's honest insights resonated with readers, contributing to its enduring appeal in educational contexts.

The Nether World (1889) is generally regarded as the finest of Gissing's early novels. A fast moving story of highly dramatic, sometimes violent scenes, it depicts life amongst the artisans, factory-girls, and slum-dwellers of Clerkenwell in the 1870s. But this is not just a novel of documentary realism. It is one man's mordant vision - shaped by bitter personal experience of poverty - of the quality of life endured by a variety of characters in the nether world. With Zolaesque intensity and relentlessness, Gissing lays bare the economic forces which determine the aspirations and expectations of those born to a life of labour. This is a tale of intrigue, as rapacious schemers try to wrest a fortune out of a mysterious old man who has returned to their midst, and of thwarted love. There is no sentimentality. This is a world in which the strong exercise power against their own kind, scheming and struggling for survival, a world from which, Gissing bleakly maintains, there can be no escape.

The publisher's 'blurb' describes this as "perhaps Gissing's most ambitious novel", and it is probably one of his best. It is set in the middle-class world of the late Victorian era. The central character, Alma Rolfe, is torn between her domestic life and her career as a violinist in London.

Set in Southern Italy, this travelogue captures George Gissing's reflections and experiences during his journey along the Ionian Sea. Through vivid descriptions and personal insights, Gissing explores the region's landscapes, culture, and people, offering readers a glimpse into the charm and complexities of Italian life. His observations blend travel narrative with literary flair, making it not only a journey through geography but also a thoughtful exploration of human experience.

Regarded as Gissing's finest novel, New Grub Street tells the story of the lives and dreams of Jasper Milvain, an ambitious, cynical young writer, and Edwin Reardon, a talented novelist with limited prospects. Set in the literary and journalistic circles of 1880s London, the world that Gissing himself inhabited, this late-Victorian novel is a classic