George Gissing (1857–1903) was an English novelist who, despite battling financial struggles and personal turmoil, emerged as a significant literary figure in the Victorian era. Born into a middle-class family in Wakefield, Yorkshire, Gissing showed early academic promise, securing a scholarship to Owens College, Manchester. However, his budding academic career was abruptly curtailed due to a scandal involving theft, ostensibly committed to support a woman with whom he had become involved. After serving his punishment, Gissing relocated to America before returning to London to focus on a writing career. His work frequently delved into themes of social disparity, gender issues, and poverty, informed by his own experiences and keen observations of the societal changes during his lifetime. 'In the Year of Jubilee' (1894) is one of Gissing's seminal works. It reflects his preoccupation with the struggles of the middle class, particularly women, in the face of rapid urbanization and cultural transformation at the end of the nineteenth century. Gissing's novels are distinguished by psychological depth, realism, and an unflinching engagement with social issues, qualities that have led to his recognition as a prominent voice in the naturalist movement in literature. Despite the dark realism of his narratives, Gissing's style is characterized by its nuanced character portrayals and detailed settings, which offer a vivid cross-section of contemporary Victorian life.