ABSTRACT
The work which George Gissing left unpublished is being steadily brought to light, and this volume of short stories is the third of his books to make its appearance since his death. Short stories are now not much in vogue, and it is possible that some readers, who have faithfully followed him through Veranilda and Will Warburton will be disposed to overlook The House of Cobwebs; but everyone who does so will miss a thoroughly characteristic volume, full of the ripest and most impressive of his work. It is natural and commendable when a man is dead to speak gently ofwork which he is known to have valued himself; and, because Gissing set great store on -his excursion into the field of historical romance, his critics have, many of them, with the most admirable sentiment, endeavoured to persuade themselves that Veranilda was a fine and living piece of literature. Well, it is scarcely taking a difference of opinion too seriously to affirm one's confidence that time will not bear out that judgment.
