1857

George Robert Gissing born at Wakefield, Yorkshire, 22 November.

1870

Father, Thomas Waller Gissing, died suddenly, 28 December.

1871

Accompanied by two brothers, entered Lindow Grove, a Quaker boarding school at Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

1872

Won highest rank within Manchester district in Oxford Local Examination, entitling him to three years' free tuition at Owens College, Manchester. Entered Owens in October but continued to live at Lindow Grove School.

1874

Matriculated with high honors at University of London--then merely a degree-examining institution for such colleges as Owens.

1875

Moved to private lodgings in Manchester. Won exhibitions in English and Latin and also won a Shakespeare scholarship.

1876

Extending Easter seaside vacation with the prostitute Marianne Helen (Nell) Harrison, cut April classes at Owens. On 31 May arrested for petty thefts in college cloakroom to help a girl he loved; on 6 June convicted and sentenced to a month at hard labor; on 7 June expelled from Owens. Sailed for United States to start new life. Experienced the poverty and misery reflected in many of his novels. Published art review in Commonwealth (Boston).

1877

Taught briefly at Waltham, Massachusetts, public high school. Traveled to Chicago and published first fiction, "The Sins of the Fathers," in Chicago Tribune of 10 March. Published at least nineteen other short stories in Chicago newspapers from March through July. Returned to eastern United States and published story in New York City monthly. Sailed for England in September and arrived 3 October.

1879

Long after resuming life with Nell Harrison, he married her on 27 October. Made a precarious livelihood by private tuition.

1880

Brother, William, died of consumption, 16 April. Gained friendship of Frederic Harrison.

1882

The novel "Mrs. Grundy's Enemies" accepted but never published.

1883

Separated from Nell Harrison.

1886

Trafalgar Square Riot occurred 8 February.

1888

Nell Harrison died 29 February. Began five month trip abroad, mainly in Italy.

1889

Completed Italian trip. Began trip to Greece and Italy.

1890

Illness in Naples diagnosed as lung congestion. Completed Greek and Italian trip. Met Edith Underwood.

1891

"Letty Coe." Married Edith Underwood 25 February. Son, Walter, born 10 December.

1893

"A Victim of Circumstances," "Lou and Liz," "The Day of Silence."

1894

"Comrades in Arms."

1895

"A Lodger in Maze Pond," "The Poet's Portmanteau," and "An Old Maid's Triumph."

1896

Second son, Alfred, born 20 January. "The Foolish Virgin" and "The Schoolmaster's Vision."

1897

Ill from lung congestion again, he left wife. Departed for six-month Italian trip that later provided material for By the Ionian Sea.

1898

Completed Italian trip. "One Way of Happiness." Met Gabrielle Marie Edith Fleury on 6 July. Saw wife for last time on 7 September.

1899

Preface to The Pickwick Papers. Unable to obtain divorce, began to live as "man and wife" with Gabrielle Fleury in France, following a 7 May "marriage" ceremony.

1900

By the Ionian Sea serialized. "The House of Cobwebs." Prefaces to Nicholas Nickleby, Bleak House, and Oliver Twist.

1901

"A Daughter of the Lodge." Prefaces to The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge. Went to Arcachon for healthy climate. Condition diagnosed as emphysema.

1902

Serialization begun of "An Author at Grass," later called The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft. "Christopherson." Edith Underwood Gissing committed to insane asylum. With Gabrielle Fleury and her mother, he moved to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Luz for healthy climate.

1903

Moved to Ispoure (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port) and died there, 28 December.

In the days to come, as through all time that is past, man will lord it over his fellow, and earth will be stained red from veins of young and old. That sweet and sounding name of patria becomes an illusion and a curse. (By the Ionian Sea, XVIII)