By the Ionian Sea (Electronic book text)

Between 1880 and 1903 Gissing wrote 23 novels. His early works were naturalistic and later he wrote in a realistic style. Gissing it considered to be a late Victorian author. In 1897 Gissing traveled throughout southern Italy and his experiences have been masterfully written down in this volume. Gissing visits museums, temples, cathedrals, and tombs in his search to find the Greco-Roman civilization he loved as a boy. Gissing incorporated the historic with contemporary Italy. Beautiful scenery is juxtaposed with the poverty and hardship of life in southern Italy.