A Life's Morning

"A Life's Morning" by George Gissing is a story about a young man named Wilfrid Athel, who comes home from Oxford because he is sick, and seeks to have a fulfilling life both emotionally and with his intelligence. Wilfrid's youth and big goals for himself are big focuses in the book, as is what he wants for his mind and heart. The start of the book shows Wilfrid getting back to his family's house after being sick at school. Even though he isn't feeling well, he has a lot of energy and wants to learn a lot, even though his body isn't always up to it. We see his family, like Mrs. Rossall and the twins, and hear talks at breakfast, which makes the story feel cozy but also thoughtful. But, there's also some stress in the air as Wilfrid tries to figure out what's expected of him, what he wants to achieve, and how he feels about others, especially Miss Hood, whose smarts and strong personality get his attention. All of this prepares us for a good look at how people get along, what society thinks is normal, and how people try to grow as people.