The BBC series of North and South make a perfect introduction to Gaskell’s work, I think!
As for Wives and Daughters, I read it once and saw the mini-series as well. It is high time I reread it! But it is often so difficult to start reading a book knowing you won’t know how it was supposed to end.
Thank you for stopping by, Iris! Yes, I agree N&S is a wonderful introduction to Gaskell and I thank the BBC for making it otherwise I might not have come across her work.
It is sometimes difficult to re-read but I find once I’m a few chapters in I’m hooked on revisiting old beloved characters.
Thank you for the lovely review – Molly is such a lovely character and when thinking of her so many lovely scenarios come to mind.
How on earth the good Doctor could have imagined that Hyacinth would be an appropriate mother for this exceptional daughter, I don’t know.
This is one of my favorites from the book:”I say Gibson, we’re old friends, and you’re a fool if you take anything I say as an offense. Madam your wife and I didn’t hit it off the only time I ever saw her. I won’t say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it wasn’t me!”
— Elizabeth Gaskell (Wives and Daughters)
Mrs. Gaskell was quite a wit!
Thank you for the review..and now back on the bus!
I know what you mean. It must have been the combination of shock that Molly has grown to that age where men begin to admire her and an attraction to the beautiful Mrs. Kirkpatrick that caused Mr. Gibson to loose his sense so totally… poor man!
It must be so jolting to come to the last few words that Gaskell wrote and not have a finished ending. Tragic that she died at 55 with so many years of books ahead of her that could have been written. Great review Katherine. I have not read it, but I have seen the 1999 mini-series and named my cat Molly after the heroine! She is spunky and sweet like Gaskell’s character too!
I can never decide whether I like W&D better than N&S or vice versa, but I do love W&D and Molly and Roger so much. Again, I think Gaskell does such a wonderful job in showing real people with a real mixed bag of emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.
It’s absolutely heartbreaking that this was Gaskell’s last novel as I do think it is her finest in terms of sheer craft.
Love the film, have never read the book. Perhaps my book club will choose to read it next time. We have decided on Gaskell, just not the book. Enjoyed your review tremendously.
This is up next on my Gaskell-novels-to-be-read pile! And your lovely review is making me want to pick it up sooner…
As most, I’ve watched the adaptation, and I must confess though, that I did not warm to Roger initially… He reminds me of Arthur Clennam from ‘Little Dorrit – men who are so clueless of the love of the woman right in front of them. But thankfully, they redeem themselves in the end! =)
I met with Gaskell through Wives and daughters and it was love at first side. Now I’m reading Mary Barton and I’m moving to North and South as soon as possible. I love audiobooks because i can listen to them while driving in the traffic here in Rome.
My email is maribea@tiscali.it.
Cheers!
“If there is one thing I dislike it is the way doctors have of giving tablespoonfuls of nauseous mixtures as a certain remedy for sorrows and cares”
Well, I might leave that one now. I thought I posted a comment about this quotation.
“It follows the life of Molly, a wonderful and fresh heroine with intellect, selflessness, and frankness.”
This could be a description of Elizabeth Gaskell herself.
Thanks for your great review.
Yes, I remember you posted the comment! I was searching for it to reply early but couldn’t find it. I must have accidentally deleted it — sorry about that.
It was a great comparison of quotes!
For everyone curious, Tony compared Gaskell’s quote:
“If there is one thing I dislike it is the way doctors have of giving tablespoonfuls of nauseous mixtures as a certain remedy for sorrows and cares”
with our modern version; something along the lines of someone kicking your shin to forget your toothache.
Thank you for stopping by, Tony! And for your comment.
North and South (the miniseries)was also my introduction to Elizabeth Gaskell – waht a way to learn. SInce then I’ve read the books and watched the DVDs. I have to say that Wives and Daughters was the hardest to read – I don’t know why but I’m willing to give it another try.
This is odd, it’s the second comment that has vanished and I know for certain I didn’t delete two by accident; I remember approving both yours and Tony’s comment.
I really enjoyed the movie versions of both North and South and Wives and Daughters and I have read North and South. I am now an Elizabeth Gaskell fan. My mother loves audio books, so if I win this, I am passing it on to her because I think she would enjoy it, too.
Ten years ago, thanks to the 1999 miniseries, I discovered Gaskell. After the first episode could not wait every weekly new tv episode to know what was going to happen so I rush to get the novel and read it. I did not know it was her last novel and it was left relatively unfinished, though at the point we were left, there was not doubt about the end.
I just love it on first reading, in particular I become very fond of Molly. Just as many people draw comparisons between Gaskell’s North and South and Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, I have always felt that there is also a similarity between W&D and Austen’s Mansfield Park. Please, do not be frightened by this comparison, I draw it because I find certain similarity on the love triangle, but W&D presents a more satisfying resolution of the conflict, for me there is no question whether the male protagonist is in love with Molly at the end, a heroine who is less problematic than Fanny.
One last comment, I am also fan of Lady Harriet, a great secondary character, a real champion.
I really am loving reading all these posts on Elizabeth Gaskell. It is so nice to see all this love for her, she truly is a gem of an author. Wives and Daughters is one of my favorite books of all time. Since discovering Gaskell several years ago, I have read Wives and Daughters once a year. I know that an unfinished novel of such length might get to people, but it didn’t bother me at all. Of course, I wish Gaksell had been able to finish it, but it’s still such an amazing work. And the TV miniseries does a good job of picking up where the book left off. The special features on the Wives and Daughters disk are AWESOME and very informative. I love the, “Who the Dicken’s is Gaskell?” feature.
The BBC series of North and South make a perfect introduction to Gaskell’s work, I think!
As for Wives and Daughters, I read it once and saw the mini-series as well. It is high time I reread it! But it is often so difficult to start reading a book knowing you won’t know how it was supposed to end.
Thank you for stopping by, Iris! Yes, I agree N&S is a wonderful introduction to Gaskell and I thank the BBC for making it otherwise I might not have come across her work.
It is sometimes difficult to re-read but I find once I’m a few chapters in I’m hooked on revisiting old beloved characters.
I haven’t read this book, but I did watch the mini series. I enjoyed the story but not as much as North and South.
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Thank you for the lovely review – Molly is such a lovely character and when thinking of her so many lovely scenarios come to mind.
How on earth the good Doctor could have imagined that Hyacinth would be an appropriate mother for this exceptional daughter, I don’t know.
This is one of my favorites from the book:”I say Gibson, we’re old friends, and you’re a fool if you take anything I say as an offense. Madam your wife and I didn’t hit it off the only time I ever saw her. I won’t say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it wasn’t me!”
— Elizabeth Gaskell (Wives and Daughters)
Mrs. Gaskell was quite a wit!
Thank you for the review..and now back on the bus!
Hello Lynn!
I know what you mean. It must have been the combination of shock that Molly has grown to that age where men begin to admire her and an attraction to the beautiful Mrs. Kirkpatrick that caused Mr. Gibson to loose his sense so totally… poor man!
Thank you for stopping by!
Very nice summary! This is such a lovely novel!
I’ve lovin the Gaskell blog tour!
It must be so jolting to come to the last few words that Gaskell wrote and not have a finished ending. Tragic that she died at 55 with so many years of books ahead of her that could have been written. Great review Katherine. I have not read it, but I have seen the 1999 mini-series and named my cat Molly after the heroine! She is spunky and sweet like Gaskell’s character too!
I can never decide whether I like W&D better than N&S or vice versa, but I do love W&D and Molly and Roger so much. Again, I think Gaskell does such a wonderful job in showing real people with a real mixed bag of emotions, strengths, and weaknesses.
It’s absolutely heartbreaking that this was Gaskell’s last novel as I do think it is her finest in terms of sheer craft.
I loved the quotes you chose–well done!
Love the film, have never read the book. Perhaps my book club will choose to read it next time. We have decided on Gaskell, just not the book. Enjoyed your review tremendously.
Also love the mini-series but have yet to read the book-this review is most encouraging!
This is up next on my Gaskell-novels-to-be-read pile! And your lovely review is making me want to pick it up sooner…
As most, I’ve watched the adaptation, and I must confess though, that I did not warm to Roger initially… He reminds me of Arthur Clennam from ‘Little Dorrit – men who are so clueless of the love of the woman right in front of them. But thankfully, they redeem themselves in the end! =)
I met with Gaskell through Wives and daughters and it was love at first side. Now I’m reading Mary Barton and I’m moving to North and South as soon as possible. I love audiobooks because i can listen to them while driving in the traffic here in Rome.
My email is maribea@tiscali.it.
Cheers!
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“If there is one thing I dislike it is the way doctors have of giving tablespoonfuls of nauseous mixtures as a certain remedy for sorrows and cares”
Well, I might leave that one now. I thought I posted a comment about this quotation.
“It follows the life of Molly, a wonderful and fresh heroine with intellect, selflessness, and frankness.”
This could be a description of Elizabeth Gaskell herself.
Thanks for your great review.
Tony
Hello Tony,
Yes, I remember you posted the comment! I was searching for it to reply early but couldn’t find it. I must have accidentally deleted it — sorry about that.
It was a great comparison of quotes!
For everyone curious, Tony compared Gaskell’s quote:
“If there is one thing I dislike it is the way doctors have of giving tablespoonfuls of nauseous mixtures as a certain remedy for sorrows and cares”
with our modern version; something along the lines of someone kicking your shin to forget your toothache.
Thank you for stopping by, Tony! And for your comment.
North and South (the miniseries)was also my introduction to Elizabeth Gaskell – waht a way to learn. SInce then I’ve read the books and watched the DVDs. I have to say that Wives and Daughters was the hardest to read – I don’t know why but I’m willing to give it another try.
Did my comment get deleted? I wrote about how the lack of an endong always left me wishing . . .
AprilFool,
This is odd, it’s the second comment that has vanished and I know for certain I didn’t delete two by accident; I remember approving both yours and Tony’s comment.
Best,
Katherine
I really enjoyed the movie versions of both North and South and Wives and Daughters and I have read North and South. I am now an Elizabeth Gaskell fan. My mother loves audio books, so if I win this, I am passing it on to her because I think she would enjoy it, too.
Margay
Ten years ago, thanks to the 1999 miniseries, I discovered Gaskell. After the first episode could not wait every weekly new tv episode to know what was going to happen so I rush to get the novel and read it. I did not know it was her last novel and it was left relatively unfinished, though at the point we were left, there was not doubt about the end.
I just love it on first reading, in particular I become very fond of Molly. Just as many people draw comparisons between Gaskell’s North and South and Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, I have always felt that there is also a similarity between W&D and Austen’s Mansfield Park. Please, do not be frightened by this comparison, I draw it because I find certain similarity on the love triangle, but W&D presents a more satisfying resolution of the conflict, for me there is no question whether the male protagonist is in love with Molly at the end, a heroine who is less problematic than Fanny.
One last comment, I am also fan of Lady Harriet, a great secondary character, a real champion.
I have not read Wives & Daughters, but your choice of quotes may be the push I needed. Thank you.
I really am loving reading all these posts on Elizabeth Gaskell. It is so nice to see all this love for her, she truly is a gem of an author. Wives and Daughters is one of my favorite books of all time. Since discovering Gaskell several years ago, I have read Wives and Daughters once a year. I know that an unfinished novel of such length might get to people, but it didn’t bother me at all. Of course, I wish Gaksell had been able to finish it, but it’s still such an amazing work. And the TV miniseries does a good job of picking up where the book left off. The special features on the Wives and Daughters disk are AWESOME and very informative. I love the, “Who the Dicken’s is Gaskell?” feature.