George Gissing

The Novels of George Gissing, Volume Two (complete and unabridged) including, The Odd Women, Eve's Ransom, The Paying Guest and Will Warburton

This volume contains four novels: 1. The Odd Women. This is an astonishing book: a subversive, feminist take on marriage and women's roles in society, written by a man in the 1890s. The criticism of Victorian marriage and Victorian men runs deep within this excellent story. The characters are fascinating and believable, and the story will have you turning the pages as quickly as any contemporary novel. 2. Eve's Ransom. This short novel is a character study of a man who determines almost on a whim to rescue a young woman from a life of drudgery. It is a good story with timeless characters. Gissing's distinctive voice shines through: wry, disillusioned, half-hopeless and yet still finding beauty amid the rundown late Victorian world. 3. The Paying Guest. A rising middle class suburban British family takes in a young woman of a distinctly different background in order to secure a supplemental income. The effects of class and money on human relations brings chaos to the household. The humor of the book results from the awkwardness of snobbery and attempted refinement of their "guest" and her manipulative ways. 4. Will Warburton. This novel was written while he was dying and was not published until 1905, two years after his death. It is a very funny story, based around a secret that Will is trying to keep from his family. The characters and their musings are captivating and sometimes bizarre.