George Robert Gissing was an English novelist whose career spanned the late nineteenth century. Born in 1857, Gissing became a prolific writer, publishing twenty-three novels between the years 1880 and 1903. During the 1890s, his literary standing was such that he was considered one of the three greatest novelists in England, marking a high point of contemporary critical appreciation for his work.
Following his death in 1903, Gissing's critical standing continued to evolve. By the 1940s, his contribution to English literature was further elevated when he was recognized as a literary genius. In the modern era, his most significant works have been preserved and reintroduced to readers through new editions. Among his best-known and most enduring novels are The Nether World (1889), New Grub Street (1891), Born in Exile (1892), and The Odd Women (1893). Through these publications, Gissing maintains a dedicated, albeit small, following of readers.
