Customer Reviews

Wives and Daughters (Oxford World's Classics)

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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.

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.

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.

I am enjoying reading this book. Elizabeth Gaskell is an amazing writer. Her development of characters is very entertaining. I feel like I have always known them and she has refreshed my memory.

After viewing the BBC production of the same name I was anxious to purchase the book and read it for myself. I love this newly discovered author, Elizabeth Gaskell.

Book looks great. This is in great condition and only looks slightly bent from travel. otherwise it is in perfect condition.