The Unclassed (1884) is a novel by George Gissing. Inspired by his own
struggles as a working writer forced to take up odd jobs while failing
to gain traction with critics and readers, Gissing crafts a tale of
talent, ambition, and romance fallen victim to the vicissitudes of
class. The Unclassed poses important questions about convention in
Victorian England while proving surprisingly relevant for our own times.
Struggling to make it as a lower-class Londoner, Osmond Waymark finds
himself unable to give up his literary ambitions. Desperate and lonely,
he strikes up a friendship with Julian Casti, a similarly down-and-out
young writer who suffers from both poverty and xenophobia as the son of
Italian immigrants. When Julian agrees to an ill-advised marriage to
Harriet Smales, a rude young woman, he inadvertently exposes Osmond to
her manipulative and vindictive ways. As Osmond falls for Ida Starr, a
prostitute's daughter driven to rise above her circumstances, he
unwittingly angers Harriet, whose friend Maud is secretly in love with
him. In a shocking turn of events, Harriet conspires to get Ida arrested
for theft, then maneuvers to get Osmond into the arms of Maud. The two
become engaged, leaving Ida--the novel's heroine--to rely on her wits
and survival instinct to not only prove her innocence, but win back the
man she loves. In The Unclassed, Gissing explores the limits of social
mobility, the struggles faced by young writers, and the power of
jealousy to poison both promise and hope. With a beautifully designed
cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of George
Gissing's The Unclassed is a classic work of English literature
reimagined for modern readers.
