New Grub Street

New Grub Street, published in 1891 by George Gissing, is a novel set in the literary circles of 1880s London that starkly portrays the harsh realities of the Victorian literary marketplace. It contrasts two writers: Edwin Reardon, a principled novelist of talent who grapples with writer’s block, refuses to compromise his artistic standards, and descends into poverty and personal tragedy alongside his wife Amy; and Jasper Milvain, a pragmatic, ambitious journalist who prioritizes commercial success, networking, and financial gain over integrity, ultimately achieving wealth and status. Through their intertwined stories—marked by failed marriages, class tensions, genteel destitution, and the commodification of writing—the book critiques how market forces erode creativity and human relationships in Grub Street, the notorious hub of struggling hacks.