I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself to admirers of George Gissing on the Web. My first studies of Gissing's work began when I wrote a dissertation on him at Columbia University. This led to my 1963 book, George Gissing: A Critical Biography, which was based on then unpublished materials in the Berg Collection of the New York Public Library. Since that time I have continued to contribute occasionally to Gissing studies and publications although my main scholarly work in recent decades has gone in other directions, as I have turned to Robert Browning, modern poetry and other subjects. In past years I edited Gissing's Commonplace Book and published a humble version of the Gissing Newsletter, which has now developed into the far more impressive Gissing Journal edited by my good friend, Professor Pierre Coustillas. Through the years, I have continued to work with Professor Coustillas, whose vigorous leadership as a critic and editor in Gissing studies has brought our author into new prominence. For me, one of the pleasures of continuing my interest in Gissing has been that of enjoying friendships with Gissing enthusiasts in other countries. It is an additional pleasure to extend these friendships now through the Internet, and I look forward to meeting many more Gissing friends in this way.

Jacob Korg

Professor Emeritus, University of Washington

Home address: 6530 51 Avenue NE Seattle, Washington 98115
E-mail: korg@u.washington.edu

DLB: George Gissing (Jacob Korg)