Wives and Daughters (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

Elizabeth Gaskell (Author), Angus Easson (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Oxford World's Classics | Publication Date: March 13, 2003

Wives and Daughters, Elizabeth Gaskell's last novel, is regarded by many as her masterpiece. Molly Gibson is the daughter of the doctor in the small provincial town of Hollingford. Her widowed father marries a second time to give Molly the woman's presence he feels she lacks, but until the arrival of Cynthia, her dazzling step-sister, Molly finds her situation hard to accept. Intertwined with the story of the Gibsons is that of Squire Hamley and his two sons; as Molly grows up and falls in love she learns to judge people for what they are, not what they seem. Through Molly's observations the hierarchies, social values, and social changes of early nineteenth-century English life are made vivid in a novel that is timeless in its representation of human relationships. This edition, the first to be based in the original Cornhill Magazine serialization of 1864-6, draws on a full collation of the manuscript to present the most accurate text so far available.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`A superb edition - Easson's notes are well done - genuinely helpful - and the supporting scholarly materials (introduction, textual variants, bibliography) are also valuable.' Dr. C. J. Walsh, St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill

`A useful introduction and notes. Will use it on a course concerned with the relationships between thought and history through an analysis of rural society' W. J. Gregory, Newcastle Polytechnic.

About the Author

Angus Easson is at University of Salford.

Product Details

• Paperback: 784 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 13, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192838393
• ISBN-13: 978-0192838391
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #989,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another classic from Elizabeth Gaskell, December 13, 2010

By 

Kim Maddalozzo (Kennett Square, PA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Wives and Daughters (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

Elizabeth Gaskell is one of my favorite authors. Her novel North and South is one of my favorite books of all time and one I read over and over. Wives and Daughters is also a favorite of mine. It has a different storyline than some of her other works. In this book human relationships takes the center stage. All kinds of relationships are described, father/daughter, husband/wife, mother/daughter, father/son and the relationships between children and their step-parents. All of her characters are honest, believable people and even though the times are much different I can find myself comparing relationships in this book to relationships in my own life.

This book follows young Molly Gibson, a daughter of the country town's daughter. Mr Gibson is a widower and starts to feel that as Molly is growing into a young woman she could use the influence of a mother. He meets and marries an older woman who has her own daughter around Molly's age. Molly finds her situation unbearable until the arrival of her new sister Cynthia who becomes Molly's closest friend and sister. As Molly grows up she begins to see people differently and learns to take everyone for the people they are not what they seem. Intermixed into the story, is the family of Squire Hamley and their relationships with each other and the social environment of the day.

There are some inconsistencies in the story, but it is important to note that this was Elizabeth Gaskell's last novel and she died before it could be completed. Despite of this fact the story is till fantastic, Molly is one of the most honest, kind hearted heroines in literature and the we get to follow her as she grows up to become an exceptional woman. Even though it is not finished it is a rare book to treasure.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, October 22, 2010

By 

Tennessee Redhead "Tennessee Redhead" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Wives and Daughters (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

The characters in this classic novel are very well drawn. Mrs. Gaskell breathes life into these characters, so much so that you feel you know them. There are flaws and inconsistancies in the text, but Mrs. Gaskell died before she could complete the book, and many errors were never corrected. I like the Oxford World's Classics version because of the informative preface and notes at the end.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On Par with Jane Austen, October 13, 2010

By 

Love To Read (Bucks County, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wives and Daughters (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

I knew that I would like this book based on the title, the cover and the period in history. But I was so surprised to discover this amazing author who's writing style rates up there with Austen, Brontes, Eliot and others.

The most refreshing thing about Gaskell is that as an author, she comes across as very upbeat and mentally well-balanced. Often, an author's "issues" are evident in their works and the reader walks away with a strong sense of the author's psychological make-up and is even sometimes affected by it if it's negative. I did not get that feeling at all with this one but felt an overall sense of peace even though it portrayed a realistic situation that at times was very uncomfortable.