Showing results by author "Elizabeth Gaskell" in All Categories

Love has many forms, many needs. Some fall into the dark, into the shadows. Forbidden love has connotations of desire, of possession but also of matters far more unsavoury. It’s a delicate facet of love that our classic authors explain with careful words and superbly crafted narratives.

Ghost stories from the golden age. Six great writers weave their spell in creepy, insidious style.

Uncover a chilling tale of a young bride who finds herself married to a man with a deadly secret. As she discovers her husbands gruesome past, she must find a way to escape his lethal intentions. Join us for this haunting Bluebeard story retold. (Summary by Jane Greensmith)

"Cranford" is the best-known novel of the 19th century English writer Elizabeth Gaskell. It was first published in 1851 as a serial in the magazine "Household Words", which was edited by Charles Dickens.

Against a background of industrial unrest, misery, suspicion, jealousy, and the deaths of family and dear friends, the star-crossed love between mill owner John Thornton and the cultivated Margaret Hale is put to the test.

Dive into the compelling world of Elizabeth Gaskell, a prominent voice in Victorian literature and a key contributor to Charles Dickenss weekly magazine, Household Words, from 1850 to 1853. This collection features all of the short stories and non-fiction pieces that Gaskell published during this period, showcasing her remarkable talent. Included are her beloved serialized novels, Cranford, North and South, and My Lady Ludlow, alongside 18 shorter works that solidified her status as Dickenss most significant literary collaborator. Explore Gaskells poignant reflections on the working classes of...

When an elderly widower takes up lodgings in London, she develops an interest in the mysterious house to let across the way. What follows is a collection of stories and poetry of the house's previous occupants that gradually builds up the history of the house before the mystery is revealed.

Mary Barton, the debut novel by English author Elizabeth Gaskell, was published in 1848 and paints a vivid portrait of life in 1830s and 1840s Manchester. This powerful narrative delves into the harsh realities faced by the Victorian working class, centering around two families—the Bartons and the Wilsons. As John Barton grapples with the loss of his wife and son, he becomes a passionate advocate for social justice, questioning the inequities of wealth and the struggles between the rich and the poor. The disappearance of his sister-in-law Esther adds to the familys turmoil, pushing John ...

Dive into a world of love, murder, and insightful social commentary as you explore Mrs. Gaskells masterful storytelling. Originally serialized by Charles Dickens, this novel reflects the authors unique ability to eschew melodrama in favor of rich psychological realism. Experience a poignant narrative that navigates the complexities of human connections across class divides, all brought to life by the talented Beth Thomas.

With the talents on display the most difficult task is choosing only ten. Their virtuosity, their craft and ambition scare belie the difficulties that society places upon most women. Their words cannot be denied, their literary heritage is safe forever.

Step into the charming world of Cranford, a quaint market town where a group of respectable ladies navigates the intricacies of life, love, and societal change. As they uncover secrets, share gossip, and confront the arrival of new residents and innovations, the humor and heart of Victorian society come to life. Originally published in episodes between 1851 and 1853 in Charles Dickens’ Journal Household Words, this delightful tale is accompanied by a short sequel, The Cage at Cranford, written a decade later and featured in All the Year Round. In a heartfelt letter to Mrs. Gaskell, Charlotte...

Von 1851 bis 1853 veröffentliche Charles Dickens in seiner Zeitschrift Household Words eine kleine vergnüglich-ironische Serie über ein fiktives Kleinstädtchen: Cranford. Verfasst wurde sie von der britischen Schriftstellerin Elizabeth Gaskell. Die Autorin erzählt in liebevollen Episoden vom Leben im victorianischen England, von altmodischen Gewohnheiten und von selbstbewussten Frauen, die die Geschicke ihres Städtchens lenken – darunter die vernünftige Deborah und ihre sanftmütige, dabei etwas furchtsame Schwester Miss Matty, oder von Miss Betsy, die wohl die einzige Kuh Englands besitzt, die Flanellanzüge trägt.

Whilst writer Charles Dickens needs no introduction, his Haunted House anthology might, not least because in his role as editor he introduces a formidable array of known and lesser-known literary talents.

A Victorian family gathers round the hearth, and one by one they tell each other their Winter's tales. Charles Dickens begins 'the round of stories they were to relate, as they sat in a goodly circle by the Christmas fire', and then hands over to Elizabeth Gaskell, Samuel Sidney and other respected contributors to the Christmas 1852 number of Household Words.

When Mr Robinson Higgins moves into the White House at Barford, he is an instant hit with society. Assured by his old friend Sir Harry that Higgins is a gentleman, old Squire Hearns decides to give his blessing to a romance between his daughter and the newcomer. But the Squire will come to regret this decision.

Presenting an audio anthology of Victorian ghost stories to chill you to the bone this holiday season.

When Margaret Hale's father leaves the Anglican Church in a crisis of conscience, she and her family are uprooted from their comfortable home in Hampshire to move to the north of England. At first repulsed by the hideousness of her new surroundings in the industrial town of Milton, Margaret becomes aware of the suffering and poverty of the local mill workers and is stirred by a passionate sense of social justice. This is complicated by her tempestuous relationship with the mill's owner and self-made man, John Thornton.

This is the story of Margaret Hale, a young English woman who accompanies her family's move from rural southern England to the industrial north. It proves to be a difficult change, with all the attendant social conflicts and cultural misunderstandings consequent to such situations. It is a study in contrasts. Mrs. Gaskell created one of the Victorian era's greatest heroines in Margaret Hale, a young lady of passionate intensity.

Elizabeth Gaskell is equally well known as Mrs Gaskell. When her mother died, she was three months old and she was sent to live in Knutsford, Cheshire with her Aunt Hannah, this setting would become the basis for her novel Cranford.

Cousin Phillis is considered one of the finest examples of "the short story". Focusing on the unexpected friendship between seventeen year old Paul Manning and his second cousin Phillis Holman the story is simple and uncomplicated. Its true beauty is in the gentle unfolding and narrative style that Gaskell employs so well.