Of Human Odds and Ends. Was so alles geschieht

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"Human Odds and Ends" consists of 29 stories and vignettes featuring down-and-out, eccentric characters not often emphasized in literature of Gissing's day. The stories are unusual in that they do not lead to a climactic moment, a surprise, or a reversal of fortune at the end. Instead, they briefly develop usually one primary character, show that person in a variety of situations, and then often fade away in something of an anticlimax. Gissing's efforts with the short story form are more like vignettes and sketches than developed works. His descriptions of odd characters are frequently detailed and compelling, and the situations in which his characters find themselves are revealing. The vignette-like format often works well, but it falls flat on occasion. Gissing was an erratic writer, particularly in these stories.