Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
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.
Cranford
In a quaint, female-led village, life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a charismatic captain, shaking up traditions and stirring the hearts of its gentle inhabitants.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Mary Barton
Amidst the smoke-filled factories of Manchester, a young woman navigates love and hardship while her family becomes entangled in a web of secrets and social unrest.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Round the Sofa; vol. 1
Amidst eroding traditions and societal expectations, a young girl seeks solace and understanding in unexpected friendships while navigating a melancholic and curious chapter in her life.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
The Grey Woman and other Tales
In a world of oppressive marriages and looming threats, a woman haunted by her past must find the courage to break free.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
The Poor Clare
Amidst historical curses and haunting doppelgangers, discover how intertwined family legacies of love, loss, and redemption reveal a young woman's destiny.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
North and South
A young woman finds herself torn between two very different societies, where she must navigate the conflicting expectations and shifting social landscape of a changing world.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Ruth
In a time when society judged women harshly, a young dressmaker’s life is forever changed by love, loss, and her own fight for redemption.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
My Lady Ludlow
Amidst societal shifts, a young woman's life intertwines with a noble lady, challenging conventions of class and duty.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Sylvia's Lovers — Complete
In a coastal town gripped by the whaling trade and the fear of forced conscription, a young woman's dreams of love and a simple life are tested by the harsh realities of her time.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Sylvia's Lovers — Volume 3
Torn between a husband and a past love, a woman must navigate conflicting emotions and societal pressures to find her own path to happiness.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Cousin Phillis
In the English countryside, a young railway clerk finds himself caught between newfound independence and a budding romance with a long-lost cousin.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
The Life of Charlotte Brontë — Volume 1
Discover the origins of a literary icon as she navigates family, loss, and a rapidly changing world in 19th-century Yorkshire.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Sylvia's Lovers — Volume 1
In a coastal town gripped by war, a young woman's desire for independence clashes with the forced conscription of men into naval service, threatening to unravel lives and relationships.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
A Dark Night's Work
In a 19th-century town, a lawyer's dreams for his family collide with hidden tensions and societal pressures.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Lizzie Leigh
A fallen woman's chance at redemption hinges on her mother's unwavering love amidst societal scorn and heartbreaking tragedy.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Cranford
In a charming town run by women, discover friendships, secrets, and the surprising strength found in a close-knit community.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Sylvia's Lovers — Volume 2
In a world dictated by societal norms, a young woman navigates the treacherous waters of love, torn between a passionate sailor and a steadfast, reliable gentleman.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Wives and Daughters
In a world of lords and ladies, a naive young woman takes her first steps into adulthood, unaware of the complex relationships and social expectations that await.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Round the Sofa
In 19th-century Edinburgh, a young woman's search for health unexpectedly leads her to uncover the profound connections that blossom amid society's intricate web.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
An Accursed Race
Discover a forgotten people cruelly set apart by baseless hatred, struggling against the chains of prejudice to reclaim their humanity.
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell