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The Crown of Life

George Gissing

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Book Excerpt: 
. . .His spirits were not in the least affected; indeed, every moment they grew more exuberant, as the wine he had drunk wrought progressively upon his brain. Only he could have wished that his cheeks and ears did not burn so; seeing himself again in a glass, he decided that he was really too high-coloured. It would pass, no doubt. Meanwhile, his eyes kept seeking Miss Derwent. The longer she escaped him, the more vehement grew his agitation. Ah, there!

She was seated, and had been hidden by a little group standing in front. At this moment, Eustace Derwent was bending to speak to her; she gave a nod in reply to what he said. As soon as the objectionable brother moved from her side, Piers stepped quickly forward.

"How delightful to meet you here! It seems too good to be true. I called this afternoon at your house—called to see you—but you were not at home. I little imagined I should see you this evening."

Irene raised her eyes,. . . Read More

Community Reviews

The charm of Gissing's books lies in his resolute opposition to the oppression of the working classes by their privileged employers. ‘The Crown of Life’ also views with concern extreme right British attitudes in the fading years of Queen Victoria: the abyss between, to take a sampling, pacifism and

Gissing's Crown Of Life

Best-known for "New Grub Street" and "The Odd Women", the Victorian author George Gissing (1857 -- 1903) wrote more than twenty novels during his short life. One of Gissing's neglected works is "The Crown of Life" published in 1899, late in his career. I wanted to visit Gissin