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Wives and Daughters (Penguin Classics) Paperback – January 1, 1997

by Elizabeth Gaskell (Author), Pam Morris (Editor)

3,257 ratings

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A story of romance, scandal and intrigue within the confines of a watchful, gossiping English village during the early nineteenth century

When seventeen-year-old Molly Gibson's widowed father remarries, her life is turned upside down by the arrival of her vain, manipulative stepfather. She also acquires an intriguing new stepsister, Cynthia, glamorous, sophisticated and irresistible to every man she meets. The two girls begin to confide in one another and Molly soon finds herself a go-between in Cynthia's love affairs - but in doing so risks losing both her own reputation and the man she secretly loves. Set in English society before the 1832 Reform Bill, Elizabeth Gaskell's last novel - considered to be her finest - demonstrates an intelligent and compassionate understanding of human relationships, and offers a witty, ironic critique of mid-Victorian society.

This text is based on the 1866 Cornhill Magazine version of the novel. It also includes notes on textual variants between this edition and the original manuscript, a note on the story's ending and an introduction discussing the novel's challenging investigation of themes of Englishness, Darwinism and masculine authority.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"No nineteenth-century novel contains a more devastating rejection than this of the Victorian male assumption of moral authority."
Pam Morris

From the Back Cover

Set in English society before the 1832 Reform Bill, Wives and Daughters centres on the story of youthful Molly Gibson, brought up from childhood by her father. When he remarries, a new step-sister enters Molly's quiet life - loveable, but worldly and troubling, Cynthia. The narrative traces the development of the two girls into womanhood within the gossiping and watchful society of Hollingford. Wives and Daughters is far more than a nostalgic evocation of village life; it offers an ironic critique of mid-Victorian society. 'No nineteenth-century novel contains a more devastating rejection than this of the Victorian male assumption of moral authority', writes Pam Morris in her introduction to this new edition, in which she explores the novel's main themes - the role of women, Darwinism and the concept of Englishness - and its literary and social context.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 1997
Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 720 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 014043478X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140434781
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.08 pounds
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.3 inches
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 12 and up

Best Sellers Rank: #495,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,625 in Classic Literature & Fiction
- #4,510 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- #4,707 in Regency Romances

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3,257 ratings

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Pam Morris
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Angus Easson
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Elizabeth Gaskell
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Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell was born in London in 1810, but she spent her formative years in Cheshire, Stratford-upon-Avon and the north of England. In 1832 she married the Reverend William Gaskell, who became well known as the minister of the Unitarian Chapel in Manchester’s Cross Street. As well as leading a busy domestic life as minister’s wife and mother of four daughters, she worked among the poor, traveled frequently and wrote. Mary Barton (1848) was her first success.
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Customers find this book to be a wonderful classic with a fascinating plot and strong emotional investment in the characters. Moreover, the writing style receives praise for its true old-school British approach, and customers appreciate its humor, with one noting how it deftly mixes domestic drama and comedy. Additionally, they value the book's insights into human behavior and its beautiful style.

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Readability Story quality Character development Writing style Enjoyment Insight Beauty Humor

117 customers mention "Readability"117 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a wonderful classic that is thoroughly enjoyable to read.

"...She is a sweet, innocent girl who loves and is loved by her physician father, a widower...." Read more

"..." is very highly recommended to fans of Elizabeth Gaskell and her excellent novels." Read more

"...Wives and Daughters' is a charming, wonderfully written story with rich characters -- highly recommend." Read more

"...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...." Read more

103 customers mention "Story quality"81 positive22 negative

Customers enjoy the story of the book, describing it as a good love story with a fascinating plot, and one customer notes that the author tells the long tale without too much moralizing.

"...She is a sweet, innocent girl who loves and is loved by her physician father, a widower...." Read more

"This was an interesting tale about a young girl named Molly, her Dad who is a Doctor, her stepmother Hyacinth and her step sister Cynthia who is..." Read more

"...The novel was written for magazine serialization, with episodic chapters...." Read more

"...Whatever the case may be, I found the book's ending charming just as it was left by the author -- finished or not...." Read more

75 customers mention "Character development"71 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting it is rich and beautifully written, with a strong emotional investment from readers. One customer specifically mentions the heroine's feisty and intelligent nature.

"...The author takes her time telling her tale and enjoys her characters, writing about each one at some length until you cannot help but get to know..." Read more

"...The characters are well-developed and very human; even the ostensible villains are fully rounded and often sympathetic...." Read more

"...I'm glad I watched the movie version first -- it was superbly cast -- and the producers could not have found more perfect actors for the parts...." Read more

"...All of her characters are honest, believable people and even though the times are much different I can find myself comparing relationships in this..." Read more

74 customers mention "Writing style"66 positive8 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as true old-school British and well-narrated, with one customer noting its beautiful descriptive words.

"...The author takes her time telling her tale and enjoys her characters, writing about each one at some length until you cannot help but get to know..." Read more

"...Amazingly, the movie stuck nearly exactly to the book, even down to entire dialogues, in some scenes, word for word...." Read more

"...Gaskell, referred to in her day as "Mrs. Gaskell," was a keen observer of human nature which, after all, hasn't changed much in the last century or..." Read more

"This is a classic of course. Slow moving and very detailed...." Read more

26 customers mention "Enjoyment"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, describing it as a pleasure and treasure that brings back the joy of being read to. One customer mentions it's a relaxing read for summer evenings, while another notes it provides a refreshing perspective during dark times.

"...Overall, I found this book to be interesting though my heart ached for Molly who was always trying so hard to be agreeable and helpful while also..." Read more

"...Still, just as a story it is fun. Often I would get bored with it and then Nadia May's voice and excitement would pull me back in...." Read more

"...It works. And it's fun. And, as you will see, it definitely leaves you begging for more." Read more

"...often, and you don't feel too frustrated for long, and the book has sweet happy places with mostly good outcomes...." Read more

20 customers mention "Insight"20 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights, with several noting it teaches valuable lessons, and one customer highlighting its perceptive analysis of characters' minds and motivations.

"...very human; even the ostensible villains are fully rounded and often sympathetic...." Read more

"...I liked the book a lot as it gave me lots in insight into how a respectable person was meant to behave and also all the restraints of living in a..." Read more

"...But there is a lot of humour and great understanding of human behaviour...." Read more

"The characters are described so well that the reader is not truly surprised by their actions, they all seem to be real acquaintances...." Read more

16 customers mention "Beauty"16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's style and well-drawn characters, with one customer noting the clear depiction of physical appearance and another highlighting how it provides insight into the class system.

"...I've gotta say the original illustrations that the iBooks version has give that one an edge over the Kindle version." Read more

"Gaskell gives us a good look at the class system and the lives of women in England in the 1800's...." Read more

"...that I build a clear picture of their physical appearance...." Read more

"...The notes are absolutely fabulous! So well done and add so much to the story. Definitely the version to get, if you are considering which to buy...." Read more

15 customers mention "Humor"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book, finding it funny at times, with one customer noting how the author deftly mixes domestic drama and comedy.

"...Set in an 1830's rural English village, it deftly mixes domestic drama and comedy with some rather subversive social commentary...." Read more

"...Sad to leave the wonderful, witty world of Molly and Hollingford!" Read more

"...But there is a lot of humour and great understanding of human behaviour...." Read more

"...The portrayal of the mother/wife was very amusing...." Read more

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Kitty, the bookworm
Time Well Spent
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2015
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

As I expected, this book is written in the style and language of the 19th century. The author takes her time telling her tale and enjoys her characters, writing about each one at some length until you cannot help but get to know them well. Her descriptions of nature and the beauties of the small village in England paint pictures as lovely as a watercolor by a fine artist. Molly, the main character, is introduced in the first chapter and appears in almost every chapter thereafter. She is a sweet, innocent girl who loves and is loved by her physician father, a widower. In his love for his daughter and his desire to protect her innocence and good name, he takes it upon himself to marry a second wife who appears to have the qualities his motherless child needs. Unfortunately, he does not recognize that his new spouse, while not an unkind person, is a self-centered woman who thinks mostly of herself. Previously she has done her best to attach herself to a noble family as a governess and has neglected her own daughter who is about the same age as Molly. By the time we meet her, daughter Cynthia has become a charming beauty who brings a great number of complications to Molly's life, even though the two girls become loving friends. Cynthia also attracts many of the eligible men who are sought after for their noble lineage or prospects of inheritance. Molly falls in love with one of Cynthia's suitors. I expected to read this book slowly and savor the descriptions, but the plot soon had me rapidly turning page after page. It takes artistry to write about these very usual people and make their day-to-day activities engrossing. Elizabeth Gaskell had that skill. I would recommend this to people who like to read of gentle times among the upper and lower middle classes in the social stratum of the 19th century.

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28 people found this helpful

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Megan Lebesch
An engaging read
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2021
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This was an interesting tale about a young girl named Molly, her Dad who is a Doctor, her stepmother Hyacinth and her step sister Cynthia who is close to her own age and eventually becomes very dear to her.

Overall, I found this book to be interesting though my heart ached for Molly who was always trying so hard to be agreeable and helpful while also obviously in love with one of her neighbors who she had grown up with but whose affections seem to have been caught by Cynthia who she loves as a sister and just wants both of them to be happy.

My favorite characters are Molly, Roger, Mr. Gibson and Mrs. Hamley who are all very dear! I really didn't care for the criticisms that Mrs. Gibson (Molly's step mom) would heap on poor Molly and Cynthia would have been better off admitting what happened before making Molly feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Full of small town life, young love, mystery and the bonds of family, I'm glad to have finally read this book.

Trigger warnings: death of Mothers, racial slurs, gossip, forced engagement, illness, death of a son,

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11 people found this helpful

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HMS Warspite
Mrs. Gaskell's Best...
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2012
Verified Purchase
"Wives and Daughters" was Elizabeth Gaskell's last, longest, and perhaps best novel. Set in an 1830's rural English village, it deftly mixes domestic drama and comedy with some rather subversive social commentary.

At the center of the story is Molly Gibson, the daughter of the village doctor, who has been motherless from a young age and raised by her father. She is modest, considerate, and honest, if a little unworldly. When one of the doctor's trainees takes in a romantic interest in the seventeen year-old Molly, the panicked Mr. Gibson packs her off to Hambley Hall, where Squire Hambley, his invalid wife, and their sons Osborne and Roger treat her as a member of the family. Mr. Gibson rather precipitously proposes to a widowed school teacher, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, who has her own daughter, Cynthia, about Molly's age.

Her new family will be a challenge for Molly. The new Mrs. Gibson is vain, shallow, and manipulative, while Cynthia is a pretty and talented flirt who attracts the attention of many young men, including a marriage proposal from Molly's favored friend Roger Hambley. Molly becomes a keeper of confidences and painful secrets; her loyalty to her new sister will involuntarily involve her in Cynthia's indiscretions, which threaten to ruin both their reputations.

The novel was written for magazine serialization, with episodic chapters. The characters are well-developed and very human; even the ostensible villains are fully rounded and often sympathetic. The social behavior of men and women is repeatedly constrasted, often for humor but also to highlight contradictions. Mrs. Gaskell takes her time telling the story, but readers won't notice the length. The author died just before finishing the novel; a final note sketches the ending toward which she was plainly heading.

"Wives and Daughters" is very highly recommended to fans of Elizabeth Gaskell and her excellent novels.

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22 people found this helpful

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Madeleine Campisi
Love this book
Reviewed in Australia on June 14, 2014
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

I'm still in the process of reading this but I'm loving it so much. It is a beautiful book and I'm totally addicted to it. The movie is exceptionally beautiful as well.

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susana pliego
Fenomenal work!
Reviewed in Mexico on December 17, 2016
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This novel of Ms. Gaskell is fantastic! and to read it today is an invaluable source of information. I'm always amazed at the level of knowledge Ms. Gaskell possessed, her allusions trough out the work to pieces of classical literature are really impressive. I've loved almost all of her work and this one has been no exception.

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Albina Baumung
Great purchase
Reviewed in Canada on September 29, 2023
Verified Purchase
Came in quickly and in great condition!
This story is just so wonderful and a must have classic on anybody’s bookshelf!

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quinqua
un véritable plaisir
Reviewed in France on May 31, 2015
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
J'ai lu ce gros roman avec avidité. Il n'y a pas d'action à toutes les pages mais c'est une merveille d'humour caustique et de lucidité , non dénuée de subtilité ,sur la nature humaine .

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history lover
le parole hanno un peso
Reviewed in Italy on June 24, 2015
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
quello che stupisce in questo romanzo è la sua modernità, sia a livello di indagine psicologica che a livello linguistico. Le figure femminili sono descritte con una profondità ed un'attenzione ai dettagli mai superflua, non c'è una parola in più nè in meno, nulla che si possa togliere o aggiungere, il tutto condito da quel sottile humour inglese che è sempre un valore aggiunto. Consigliato a tutti quelli che amano il nuovo nel vecchio

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Wives and Daughters (Penguin Classics) Paperback – January 1, 1997

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4.0 out of 5 stars An engaging read

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5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book

4.0 out of 5 stars Fenomenal work!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great purchase

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5.0 out of 5 stars le parole hanno un peso

Time Well Spent

An engaging read

Mrs. Gaskell's Best...

Love this book

Fenomenal work!

Great purchase

un véritable plaisir

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