In the Year of Jubilee

"In the Year of Jubilee" by George Gissing is a novel written during the late 19th century. Set in the context of Victorian England, the story explores the lives of characters navigating social complexities and societal expectations amidst the backdrop of a national celebration. The narrative revolves primarily around Arthur Peachey and his wife, Ada, as well as their sisters Beatrice and Fanny French, who each grapple with their roles, aspirations, and relationships in a changing world. The opening of the novel introduces Arthur Peachey as he steps out of his home on a Sunday morning to embark on a long-awaited summer holiday. Meanwhile, his wife Ada and her sisters are depicted in a chaotic domestic scene filled with bickering and dissatisfaction, revealing the struggles of their middle-class existence. The sisters' contrasting personalities and ambitions set the stage for themes of social aspiration, the quest for independence, and the difficulties of managing relationships, particularly in the context of romantic interests and class dynamics. This initial glimpse into their lives hints at larger social critiques that Gissing will explore through the intertwining lives of these characters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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.