Round the Sofa

"Round the Sofa" by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell is a collection of reflective tales written during the mid-19th century. The work begins with the character of a young woman sent to Edinburgh for medical treatment, exploring themes of domestic life, societal norms, and the interplay of social classes. The opening introduces her routine and the various characters in her life, particularly focusing on her relationship with the kind yet confined figure of Mrs. Dawson, who hosts a Monday evening gathering of acquaintances, sparking intrigue and connection amidst the backdrop of Edinburgh's society. The beginning of "Round the Sofa" sets the stage for a thoughtful exploration of the protagonist's life as she navigates the complexities of her surroundings. Initially, she resides in a sparse lodging, experiencing the melancholy of separation from her family and the constraints imposed by her poor health and strict routines. The narrative introduces several secondary characters, including the demanding Miss Mackenzie and the charming Mrs. Dawson, with whom the protagonist forms a special bond. The stark contrast between their humble lodgings and the vibrancy of Mrs. Dawson's gatherings hints at the deeper themes of class dynamics and human connection that Gaskell will weave throughout the stories. This opening invites readers to reflect on the broader implications of women's roles in society and the warmth of companionship that offers solace against the chill of isolation. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, often referred to as Mrs Gaskell, was an English novelist, biographer, and short story writer. Her novels offer a detailed portrait of the lives of many strata of Victorian society, including the very poor. Her first novel, Mary Barton, was published in 1848. Gaskell's The Life of Charlotte Brontë, published in 1857, was the first biography of Charlotte Brontë. In this biography, she wrote only of the moral, sophisticated things in Brontë's life; the rest she omitted, deciding certain, more salacious aspects were better kept hidden. Among Gaskell's best known novels are Cranford (1851–1853), North and South (1854–1855), and Wives and Daughters (1864–1866), all of which were adapted for television by the BBC.