Studies and Essays: Quality, and Others

"Studies and Essays: Quality, and Others" by John Galsworthy is a set of thoughtful essays from the early 1900s. Through Galsworthy’s storytelling approach, the essays look at different parts of being human, the world of art, and problems in society, showing respect for skilled work and pointing out society's flaws. The first essay, "Quality," tells the story of Mr. Gessler, a shoemaker whose amazing skill in making boots shows how much he loves quality and realness. The person telling the story shares memories of talking to Mr. Gessler, highlighting how dedicated he is to his work while the world changes and things are made in huge amounts. The writing feels admiring of Mr. Gessler's art but also sad about the challenges he faces as people start caring more about how much they can get instead of how good something is, touching on ideas of fading away and talent not being recognized.