# The House of Yule explained — New Grub Street

> Chapter companion for New Grub Street by George Gissing.

## What happens

Jasper Milvain and his family discuss his sighting of Alfred Yule and his daughter Marian. Miss Harrow visits and invites the Milvains to meet the Yules. Jasper and his sisters visit the Yule household, where Jasper meets both Alfred and John Yule. John Yule expresses his contempt for the literary profession and modern civilization, while Alfred Yule is preoccupied with a scandal involving the editor Fadge and a duplicated book review.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Literary Marketplace

The chapter highlights the precarious nature of literary work, with Alfred Yule's glee over Fadge's scandal and John Yule's condemnation of the profession.

### Artistic Integrity vs. Commercialism

Jasper's casual approach to writing for money contrasts with John Yule's harsh critique of the literary business as harmful to society.

## Character check-ins

### Jasper Milvain

Jasper identifies Alfred Yule and his daughter by sight, visits their home, and engages in a debate with John Yule about literature and civilization.

### Marian Yule

Marian is described by Jasper as having a delicate complexion and nice eyes; she is present during the visit and hears about the Fadge scandal.

### Alfred Yule

Alfred Yule is the father of Marian, a literary man who takes grim pleasure in the scandal involving Fadge and The Study.

### John Yule

John Yule is the wealthy, ailing brother of Alfred, who holds strong anti-literature views and criticizes the profession.

### Mrs. Milvain

Mrs. Milvain hosts Miss Harrow and discusses the Yule family with her.

### Maud Milvain

Maud is curious about Marian Yule and accompanies Jasper and Dora to the Yule house.

## Key lines

> Both of them are obvious dwellers in the valley of the shadow of books.

Both Alfred Yule and his daughter appear to be people who spend their lives surrounded by books.

_Jasper uses a literary metaphor to describe the Yules' bookish appearance._

> I should like to see the business of literature abolished.

John Yule wishes that the entire literary industry would cease to exist.

_John expresses his extreme anti-literature stance during his conversation with Jasper._

> If I were to take up your views, I think it isn't at all unlikely that I might make a good thing of writing against writing.

Jasper considers the ironic possibility of profiting by writing articles that criticize the act of writing itself.

_Jasper's remark shows his opportunistic and commercial approach to literature._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters/ii-the-house-of-yule
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/new_grub_street_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/new_grub_street_se/chapters