Sorry for any confusion and a special thank you to Luciana for bringing this to my attention.

Of course you have read ‘Ruth’ by this time. Its style was a great refreshment to me, from its finish and fullness. How women have the courage to write and publishers the spirit to buy at a high price the false and feeble representations of life and character that most feminine novels give, is a constant marvel to me. ‘Ruth,’ with all its merits, will not be an enduring or classical fiction—will it?

Mrs Gaskell seems to me to be constantly misled by a love of sharp contrasts—of “dramatic” effects. Letter to She is not contented with the subdued colouring— Taylor, its the half tints of real life. Hence she agitates one for the moment, but she does not secure one’s lasting sympathy; her scenes and characters do not become typical. But how pretty and graphic are the touches of description!

That little attic in the minister’s house, for example, which, with its pure white dimity bed-curtains, its bright-green walls, and the rich brown of its stained floor, remind one of a snowdrop springing out of the soil. Then the rich humour of Sally, and the sly satire in the description of Mr Bradshaw. Mrs Gaskell has certainly a charming mind, and one cannot help loving her as one reads her books.

Monsieur Regnier (poet and literary critic), letter to Mrs. Gaskell, May 3, 1853

Henri Francois Joseph de Regnier

So I don’t write, particularly as you laid your injunctions on me concerning Ruth. In revenge I will now mention one word that I wish you would take out whenever you reprint that book.

She would never — I am ready to make affidavit before any authority in the land — have called her seducer ” Sir,” when they were living at that hotel in Wales. A girl pretending to be what she really was would have done it, but she — never!

In the meantime, please visit me at my other blog, November’s Autumn, or on Twitter @coxkatherine both will remain active during the break.

See you in March
and be sure to read lots of Gaskell!

Sincerely Yours,
Katherine

As the wife of a Unitarian Minister living in Manchester, Elizabeth Gaskell was acutely aware of factory life and the struggles of the poor and wrote about them in her first novel Mary Barton… read more.

You must be a great writer to build a masterpiece on tiny, trivial, ordinary events. This is what you discover reading this novel by Elizabeth Gaskell and what Jane Austen’s lovers already know very well. Cranford  is the most Austensian of Mrs Gaskell’s novels, mainly for its witty tone… As Winfred Gérin states in “Elizabeth Gaskell. A Biography”,  “Cranford is not only the most sustainedly witty of Mrs Gaskell’s writings but the most relaxed in mood. It is a tale told without apparent effort in a style of intimate confidence, like gossip exchanged with a friend” (p. 124) Is this  why I read it with an idiotic smile printed on my face all the time if not laughing out loud once or twice? I just loved its humorous tone… read the full post.

Giveaway Prizes, visit to Fly High and leave a comment on her post with your email address.
A special thank you to Maria Grazia for offering this giveaway on her blog!

A Naxos Audio book recording of Gaskell’s Cranford and a paper back edition of the book!

Dearest Mary,

I hope this letter finds you well. Miss Matty meant to write but she’s rather worn out. Do not be alarmed, she is in good health (although if she followed my regime she’d be more robust).

What do you suppose we have all been up to in Cranford? –Well, Mrs. Jameison was reticent at first, but once she realized how fashionable they are become (I knew this several weeks ago) began claiming she had been wanting to plan one but felt too indisposed.

Poor Miss Matty! She was helping me with the arrangements, following exactly what I suggested, when Mrs. Jameison started giving her directions contrary to mine until she was going about, hither and thither, in a flurry of confusion. I gave her some of my aromatic vinegar to soothe her nerves.

Miss Barker was very pleased with how the cream for the strawberries turned out. Bessy died a few months back (if you ask me it was the coarse flannel that did it) but her new Aldernay, Jessie, has equally wonderful milk.

She was going to bring seed-cake for the occasion– Miss Barker that is, Mrs. Jameison wrinkled her nose but suggested since she now has a French cook, if she would but give her the recipe she needn’t worry. French indeed!

Peter teased Mr. Mulliner was setting his cap at the mademoiselle as he was serving us tea. He dropped one of the cups, turned the color of beetroot, and stormed out. Mr. Mulliner hasn’t been the same since and reads the chronicle even longer than he did before. But do you know? Peter took out a subscription too. Mr. Mulliner’s days of newspaper tyranny are at an end.

They are quite at odds with each-other and I greatly fear they will do something drastic. We’ve never had a duel in Cranford. I do hope they don’t choose to do so at the picnic. It would be the must shocking thing since Signor Brunoni!

Do you know, the dear Signore and his wife are to come and visit us for the occasion.

Well, I must bring this letter to a close Mary dear, for there is still much to do!

Yours very truly,

Miss Pole