In the Year of Jubilee

“Every man looks at it in his own way, of course. I’m not the sort of chap to knuckle under to my wife; and there isn’t one woman in a thousand, if she gave her husband a start, could help reminding him of it. It’s the wrong way about. Let women be as independent as they like as long as they’re not married. I never think the worse of them, whatever they do that’s honest. But a wife must play second fiddle, and think her husband a small god almighty”

— George Gissing

“There was a spot down the South Western Railway where we wanted to stick up a board, a great big board, as ugly as they make ‘em. It was in a man’s garden; a certain particular place, where the trains slow, and folks have time to read the advertisement and meditate on it. That chap wouldn’t listen. What! spoil his garden with our da”

— George Gissing

“You have heard that Nancy wants to mix with the rag-tag and bobtail tomorrow night?’ ‘I shall take care of her,’ Horace replied, starting from his reverie. ‘Doesn’t it seem to you rather a come-down for an educated young lady?’ ‘Oh, there’ll be lots of them about.’ ‘Will there? Then I can’t see much difference between them and the servant girls.””

— George Gissing

“They spoke a peculiar tongue, the product of sham education and mock refinement grafted upon a stock of robust vulgarity.””

— George Gissing

“Part I: Miss. Lord CHAPTER 1 At eight o'clock on Sunday morning, Arthur Peachey unlocked his front door, and quietly went forth. He had not ventured to ask that early breakfast should be prepared for him. Enough that he was leaving home for a summer holiday”

— George Gissing