The Paying Guest
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Books, including The Paying Guest by George Gissing |
The Paying Guest is a satirical novella authored by George Gissing, initially released in 1895 by Cassell as part of their Pocket Library collection. The story centers on the Mumford family, a middle-class household that takes in a "paying guest" to help improve their finances. Compared to Gissing's earlier writings, this novella adopts a notably more humorous tone. Although it was generally praised by critics, Gissing himself expressed dissatisfaction with the work.
Plot
Clarence and Emmeline Mumford, a middle-class couple residing in suburban Sutton near London with their young daughter, respond to an advertisement placed by Louise Derrick, a young woman seeking accommodation as a "paying guest." Louise is poorly educated and has a difficult temperament, caught between two suitors: Mr Bowling, who is pursuing her stepsister Cecily, and Tom Cobb.
The Mumfords find Louise’s challenging behavior hard to manage and attempt to persuade her to leave, but she refuses. Tensions escalate after a private encounter between Clarence and Louise provokes Emmeline’s jealousy. Following the end of Bowling’s courtship of Cecily, Louise briefly considers his advances; however, Cobb unexpectedly appears to court her. During their confrontation, Louise unintentionally ignites a fire in the drawing room, resulting in injuries that confine her to bed for several weeks.
In the end, Louise departs from the Mumfords and marries Cobb.
Background and publication
Written for Cassell’s Pocket Library series, Gissing composed The Paying Guest in early July 1895. It was one of three single-volume works he published that year, alongside Eve's Ransom and Sleeping Fires (the latter released within Unwin's Autonym Library series).
Despite its publication, Gissing described the novella as "a poor little book" and a "frothy trifle," deciding not to write similar short works thereafter.
Reception
Although Gissing was critical of his novella, The Paying Guest achieved strong sales and mostly favorable reviews. In the Saturday Review, H. G. Wells praised it as "Gissing at his best," commending its "heightened sense of reality" despite the restrained narrative voice. The Daily News noted its "finely observed" details and "admirably well executed" style. The New York Times found it "very entertaining and profitable reading," particularly emphasizing the interaction between Louise and the Mumfords. Percy Addleshaw lauded its wit, realism, and emotional insight, calling it "a subtle study of human nature" and one of Gissing's finest achievements. On the other hand, the New York Book Buyer criticized it as lacking merit.
References
- Citations
- Bibliography