"The Crown of Life" by George Gissing is a story set in Victorian England about a young man named Piers Otway, who is introspective and romantic. He deals with difficult family relationships, what society expects from him, and what he wants for himself. Growing up, he struggles to find himself, deal with his half-brother Daniel and falls in love with the enchanting Irene Derwent. Themes of love, ambition, and figuring out who you are drive the plot of the novel. At the start of the story, Piers is in London to meet with a member of Parliament, but his daydreams pull him away as he admires images of beautiful women. He soon spots his half-brother, Daniel, where the two discuss their family's tense history. As the story moves forward, Piers is forced to look at what he wants compared to what his family expects from him. The push and pull between hope, ambition, and emotional struggles comes into play as he wonders about his future, the impact women have on him, and the weight of his family’s name.
The Crown of Life
By George Gissing
Amidst familial tensions and societal demands in Victorian England, a young man grapples with love, ambition, and self-discovery as he journeys toward an uncertain future shaped by legacy and desire.
Summary
About the AuthorGeorge Robert Gissing was an English novelist, who published 23 novels between 1880 and 1903. In the 1890s he was considered one of the three greatest novelists in England, and by the 1940s he had been recognised as a literary genius. Gissing's best-known works have reappeared in modern editions. They include The Nether World (1889), New Grub Street (1891) and The Odd Women (1893). He retains a small but devoted group of followers.
George Robert Gissing was an English novelist, who published 23 novels between 1880 and 1903. In the 1890s he was considered one of the three greatest novelists in England, and by the 1940s he had been recognised as a literary genius. Gissing's best-known works have reappeared in modern editions. They include The Nether World (1889), New Grub Street (1891) and The Odd Women (1893). He retains a small but devoted group of followers.
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