Eve's Ransom

Eve's Ransom

George Gissing (1857-1903) was a prolific late Victorian novelist whose works other than "New Grub Street", a story of the difficulties of the literary life, remain too little known. Most of his works are pessimistic in character and feature strong portrayals of women. "Eve's Ransom" (1895) is one of Gissing's more accessible works. It is a short, bittersweet romance that tells the story of a young draftsman, Maurice Hilliard, who receives an unexpected windfall. He decides to leave drudgery behind, if only temporarily, to try to experience something of the richness of life.

The story turns on the relationship between Hilliard and a young woman named Eve Mattingly. Hilliard becomes fascinated with Eve when he sees her photograph in an album of his landlady before he leaves his job and moves to London in search of freedom. Hilliard finds Eve and begins a courtship which is detailed in the book. When Hilliard meets Eve and her friend Patty Ringrose Eve has just extricated herself from a relationship with a married man. Unfortunately her emotional attachment to this man remains. Hilliard uses some of his windfall to escort Eve and Patty to Paris for a vacation in order to help Eve forget about her former companion and, Hilliard hopes, to fall in love with him. He proves to be half-successful.

Gissing is at his best in his portrayals of women, and Eve Madely is one of his successful characters. Gissing called her his "Mona Lisa" and she is an enigmatic figure indeed. From a poor family, Eve has raised herself by effort and determination. She is a figure on the verge of the modern woman with her strength of will and desire for independence. Eve never wants to be poor again. Her fear of returning to poverty colors her relationship to Hilliard. She is also capable of passion, as evidenced in her earlier feelings about her married companion. In a short book, Gissing offers insight into Eve's heart.

Hilliard is not entirely a sympathetic character, but Gissing develops him well. He has a bad, impulsive temper which works to his detriment in the story. Although he means well, he appears to try to buy Eve's feelings and to make her feel indebted to him, a poor strategy with any woman. Hilliard has architectural aspirations, and he uses a portion of his windfull to purchase an expensive art book with paintings of medieval churches. As Eve has her Patty Ringrose, Hilliard has his friend named Robert Narramore. Narramore is a more conventional character than Hilliard and is working steadily on the path to success. The story becomes a contest between Hilliard and Narramore for the affections of Eve.

At the end of the story, Hilliard is disappointed in love, but he has learned something about himself. He manages to put his windfall to good use and to his benefit, materially and emotionally. The book avoids some of the pessimism usual in Gissing. This little novel, on the cusp between Victorianism and modernity is a bittersweet romance which will reward reading.