British fiction writer George Gissing is now regarded as one of the most important authors of the late Victorian era. This satisfyingly rich novel offers an unconventional take on romance. Protagonist Harvey Rolfe woos and eventually marries the lovely and free-spirited Alma, admiring her independence and unwillingness to bow to social mores. But are these traits part of her allegiance to the evolving role of women-or merely personal shortcomings?