Publisher's Synopsis
An unconventional treament of a conventional theme: An artist of genius marries beneath him at a critical moment to save his career. Later the more brilliant affinity makes her appearance. Usually the inferior woman is painted in crude colors in order to palliate the hero's inclination toward the affinity. Mr. Zangwill reverses the usual procedure to make a finer and more sympathetic presentation of the less brilliant wife. Then the financial crash came, leaving brother and sister entirely dependent on their labours. Both met the crisis with commendable philosophy. Mary, who had long before taken up educational work as an amateur, was soon able to establish herself as a professional, and had taught ever since at a high school in Kensington; picturesquely settling herself in a tiny flat in an artisan's building, and living as a homely worker. The dignity and serene simplicity of her life had of late furnished the one ideal thing for Wyndham's contemplation.
