Elizabeth Gaskell. 5 great works of this Victorian writer

Elizabeth Gaskell was born on September 29, 1810 in Chelsea, London. She was one of the great female names in the Victorian novel in its most realistic version. She was friends with Charles Dickens and she was known for a long time especially for her biography of Charlotte Brontë.

Today I review 5 of his most famous titles that you may know or have seen adapted on television, such as North and south. But they are also Mary barton, The House of the Páramo, Gothic Tales or Sylvia's Loves

Elizabeth gaskell

The work and figure of Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell have been revalued over time, perhaps because Victorian-era literature has never gone out of style. And the social portrait that he showed in his novels is the top that can be found. So much so that it has attracted both the interest of historians and lovers of the genre. So it is never too late to find out. These are 5 of his best known works.

5 novels

Mary barton

Was his first novel and has the personal experience of Gaskell, who, as a shepherd's wife, knew firsthand the living conditions of the workers of Manchester and the consequences of the Industrial Revolution.

It is the story of a girl who flirts with the handsome son of the employer and despises the suitor who would give his life for her. All in the midst of an environment of great social tension due to poverty and unemployment.

Gothic tales

The classic elements of the Gothic genre they are, among others, mysterious disappearances, vengeful ghosts, double-life aristocrats or curses that lock themselves in haunted castles. Y they also attracted Gaskell.

In these Gothic tales are included some as The witch Lois, chronicle of the hunt for salem witches in 1692. Or Curious, if truewhere a lost stranger in a forest he attends a stranger storytelling characters meeting of fairies.

North and south

One of the most famous perhaps, adapted to hit tv series on the part the with the BBC in 2004.

Tells the story of Margaret hale, a young woman from the south of England who, due to family circumstances, is forced to move north. It is a great portrait of the social and political conflicts derived from the industrial revolution. For Margaret, the south is the rural idyll and the north is dirty, rough and violent. However, as he integrates into this new world, the growing attraction to John Thornton, owner of a textile factory, changes his perspective and his prejudices.

The moor house

It was published as a Christmas story at the end of 1850 and it is a beautiful country love story mixed with a touch of a classic fairy tale like that of the Cinderella. All to exalt the virtue, goodwill and kindness, qualities of Maggie Browne, its protagonist. Maggie lives with an indifferent mother and an ambitious brother that mistreat and despise her in equal measure. Its attraction and love reciprocated by the landlord's heir they will lead her to fight for herselfovercome social differences that separate her from her love. And it will also be pushed into a huge sacrifice to save his ungrateful family.

Sylvia's loves

Un love triangle is the basis of this novel where dos hombres of very different characters sthey fall in love with Sylvia Robson, a young woman from the provinces. They are the merchant Philip Hepburn and the harpooner Charley kinraid. But all three share a secret that will influence your destiny. The story takes place in an English port town during the napoleonic wars.
It is a new portrait of the customs and behaviors of a rural community, where order, individualism, love and lies are capable of exalting and destroying human relationships. Gaskell defined it in his own words like the saddest work he wrote.

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