Bettie's Books

Librivox recordong in conjunction with Project GutenbergThe story deals with the literary world that Gissing himself had experienced. Its title refers to the London street, Grub Street, which in the 18th century became synomynous with hack literature; as an institution, Grub Street itself no longer existed in Gissing’s time. Its two central characters are a sharply contrasted pair of writers: Edwin Reardon, a novelist of some talent but limited commercial prospects, and a shy, cerebral man; and Jasper Milvain, a young journalist, hard-working and capable of generosity, but cynical and unscrupulous about writing and its purpose in the modern (i.e. late Victorian) world.(Summary from Wikipedia)Opening: CHAPTER I. A MAN OF HIS DAY As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning. Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness: 'There's a man being hanged in London at this moment.' 'Surely it isn't necessary to let us know that,' said his sister Maud, coldly. 'And in such a tone, too!' protested his sister Dora. 'Who is it?' inquired Mrs Milvain, looking at her son with pained forehead. 'I don't know. It happened to catch my eye in the paper yesterday that someone was to be hanged at Newgate this morning. There's a certain satisfaction in reflecting that it is not oneself.' 'That's your selfish way of looking at things,' said Maud.Here: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1709/1709-h/1709-h.htmCouldn't take it - misery on a stick right there!