Born In Exile (Annotated)

This edition includes the following editor's introduction: "The Odd Women," a pioneering novel of women's emancipation

First published in 1892, “Born in Exile” is a novel by English author George Gissing.

“Born in Exile” tells the story of Godwin Peak, a star student at Whitelaw College, which he won a scholarship to attend. He wins many academic prizes and his future seems promising. Then his Cockney uncle arrives intending to open an eating-house adjacent to the college. Godwin is mortified of being associated with 'trade' and leaves the college rather than face the scorn he expects to receive from his upper-class fellow students. This is indicative of his social aspirations (upwards) and snobbery (downwards)...

“Born in Exile” deals with the themes of class, religion, love and marriage. The premise of the novel is drawn from Gissing's own early life — an intellectually superior man born into a socially inferior milieu, though the story arc diverges significantly from the actuality.