New Grub Street Essay -- Essays Papers

New Grub StreetNew Grub Street is known asGeorge Robert Gissings best and mostrespected novel. This chef-doeuvre gives its readers a taste of the anti-idealisticprinciple that is shown all without Grub Street. This society that Gissing hasmirrored from his own life experience is onethat revolves around selfishness and money.The reader is alleged(a) to understand thatthe art of literature cannot exist withoutgood economic means. The term Grub Street continues to be used in reference to authors and journalists who are compelled to manage 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 novels cardinal 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 solitariness when he found himself unable to write for social popularity a nd 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 early published in 1891. It was Gissings 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 ... ...le to make such an collision 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(predicate) 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 CitedDimauro, Laurie, ed. Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Vol. 47. Detroit Gale Research Inc.,1993. 130 vols.Gissing, George. New Grub Street. NY ergodic House, 2002.Michaux, Jean-Pierre, ed. George Gissing Critical Essays. London Vision Press Limited,1981.Selig, Robert. George Gissing. Twaynes English Authors Ser. 346. NY Twaynes Publishers, 1995.Ward, A.C. Gissing Writers and Their Work. Vol. III. NY Longmans, Green & Co, 1959.