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Wives and Daughters

Elizabeth Gaskell,

Pam Morris (Editor)

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Sep 27, 2014 Candi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics-shelf, favorites

What a delightful story about one of the most angelic heroines I have ever encountered! Molly Gibson, daughter of a widowed country doctor, is pure, innocent, and trustworthy. When her father re-marries, Molly finds her tranquil, somewhat laid-back style of life with Mr. Gibson to be transformed by the addition of a more experienced and captivating stepsister, Cynthia, and a shallow, self-indulgent stepmother.

Molly forms a close bond with Cynthia and a respectful yet wary relationship with the What a delightful story about one of the most angelic heroines I have ever encountered! Molly Gibson, daughter of a widowed country doctor, is pure, innocent, and trustworthy. When her father re-marries, Molly finds her tranquil, somewhat laid-back style of life with Mr. Gibson to be transformed by the addition of a more experienced and captivating stepsister, Cynthia, and a shallow, self-indulgent stepmother.

Molly forms a close bond with Cynthia and a respectful yet wary relationship with the new Mrs. Gibson. Mrs. Gibson, while not the "wicked" stepmother, remains more true to herself (above all) and her own daughter despite her constant boasting that she is not a "common stepmother". Molly remains the truest and most constant of friends to those she loves. I am certain that Cynthia could never find such devotion from another, including her own mother, as she does from Molly.

The novel takes place in a provincial town in 1830's England and of course includes all the elements of the Victorian era, including the distinction of social classes and the assertion of male authority. There is an aura of mystery surrounding Cynthia and her various "love affairs", as well as one surrounding the covert relationship of a one Mr. Osborne Hamley, first-born son of Squire Hamley. Second-born son, Roger Hamley, does not escape the intrigue of love and at times I wanted to knock a little sense into this otherwise intelligent, likeable and practical gentleman. The reader also becomes acquainted with the gossipy women of the town of Hollingford in addition to the aristocratic Cumnors.

One cannot help being drawn into the everyday lives of Ms. Gaskell's characters. She paints a picture so vivid and a dialogue so appealing (and at times humorous), that I was completely engaged with the book in its entirety. I had previously heard, and then forgotten, that Ms. Gaskell died suddenly before submitting her last installment of the novel to the publisher. Therefore, it came as a shock to me when the novel ended abruptly without coming to a full conclusion. The serial publication of the novel was originally included in Cornhill Magazine. This book ends with some concluding remarks from the editor of this magazine which explains to the reader how he thinks the author would have completed the book. It left me feeling a bit wistful to not have this ending provided to me in the way in which only Ms. Gaskell could have done. ...more

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