New Grub Street is a realistic novel written by English novelist George Gissing, and published in three volumes by Smith, Elder & Co in 1891. The book is a semi-autobiographic work inspired by the authors’ own experiences in London’s literary circles. Thus, its plot is consecrated to the portrayal of the intrigues and devastating effects of poverty in the literary world.
Gissing's novel contrasts the career of Edwin Reardon with that of Jasper Milvain. The former is an impoverished author whose literary merits are unable to shade him from utter destitution. The latter is a successful reviewer and literary hack, who knows exactly how to make his way up the social ladder. The parallel between these two characters direct the novel towards a number of deep issues, and even existential questions such as the ultimate struggle between integrity and reputation, the psychology of failure, and the complexity of personality.
The success harvested by New Grub Street upon its publication, in the form of positive reviews, clings to it even today. The Guardian, for one, has placed it in the 28th position amidst the hundred best novels of all times, praising on the one hand its realistic portrayal of the Victorian society, and on the other its modern way in depicting the existential struggle of moving forwards to a new century.
As a novelist, Gissing had a reputation of writing about working-class conflicts with a genius that made New Grub Street one of the finest books in English literature. George Orwell, for instance, declared him to be, “the best novelist England has produced”. The truthfulness of such comment is to be found within the pages of his masterpiece.
