<p><I>The Unclassed</I> (1884) is a novel by George Gissing. Inspired by his own struggles as a working writer forced to take up odd jobs while failing to gain traction with critics and readers, Gissing crafts a tale of talent, ambition, and romance fallen victim to the vicissitudes of class. <I>The Unclassed</I> poses important questions about convention in Victorian England while proving surprisingly relevant for our own times. Struggling to make it as a lower-class Londoner, Osmond Waymark finds himself unable to give up his literary ambitions. Desperate and lonely, he strikes up a friendship with Julian Casti, a similarly down-and-out young writer who suffers from both poverty and xenophobia as the son of Italian immigrants. When Julian agrees to an ill-advised marriage to Harriet Smales, a rude young woman, he inadvertently exposes Osmond to her manipulative and vindictive ways. As Osmond falls for Ida Starr, a prostitute's daughter driven to rise above her circumstances, he unwittingly angers Harriet, whose friend Maud is secretly in love with him. In a shocking turn of events, Harriet conspires to get Ida arrested for theft, then maneuvers to get Osmond into the arms of Maud. The two become engaged, leaving Ida-the novel's heroine-to rely on her wits and survival instinct to not only prove her innocence, but win back the man she loves. In <I>The Unclassed</I>, Gissing explores the limits of social mobility, the struggles faced by young writers, and the power of jealousy to poison both promise and hope. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of George Gissing's <I>The Unclassed</I> is a classic work of English literature reimagined for modern readers.</p>