'New Grub Street' Summary

Edwin Reardon, a talented but struggling novelist, finds himself trapped in a cycle of poverty and creative frustration. He dreams of literary success but struggles to find a publisher willing to take a chance on his work. His friend, Jasper Milvain, a pragmatic and cynical journalist, achieves financial success by compromising his artistic principles and writing for the masses. As Reardon's financial situation worsens, he succumbs to despair and self-destruction. The novel explores the corrosive effects of poverty and the compromises artists must make in a world that values commercial success over artistic integrity. Throughout the novel, Gissing uses vivid imagery and meticulous detail to depict the squalor and social injustices of Victorian London, creating a stark and unflinching portrait of life in the late 19th century.