The Unclassed

Set against the backdrop of Victorian England, the story follows Osmond Waymark, a lower-class aspiring writer grappling with ambition and societal constraints. His friendship with Julian Casti, an impoverished son of Italian immigrants, leads to entanglements with Harriet Smales, who manipulates those around her. As Osmond falls for Ida Starr, a determined woman seeking a better life, jealousy and deceit threaten their love. Gissing delves into themes of class struggle, social mobility, and the complexities of human relationships, making this narrative both timeless and poignant.