Born In Exile

"A rationalist's progress towards love and compromise in class-ridden England Born with an aristocratic temper and brilliant scientific mind, Godwin Peak leaves his lowly Midlands home to carve out a career as a journalist among the free-thinkers of London. His poverty and origins hamper him at every turn, but at last the first step to success is achieved - acceptance of an article attacking the hypocrisy of the Victorian Church. Then, catastrophically, Peak falls in love with devout, well born Sidwell Warricombe. To be socially - and ideologically - acceptable to her, his only course is to enter the Church. The most complete edition available with themed introduction, notes and chronology of Gissing's life and times"