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 Post subject: Elizabeth Gaskell
PostPosted: April 14th, 2008, 7:08 pm 
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I've been reading a few of Elizabeth Gaskell's books recently, and I wondered if anyone else had read any of her works. :-)

I read Cranford last month, after I had seen the BBC TV series and I loved them both (although the TV show had taken liberties with the book and actually used other short stories by her and "Cranfordized" them, it was amazingly welll done and you'd never have guessed they didn't belong).

I finished Wives and Daughters last night, and it was a brilliant book. There was just something about it that gripped me and I rate Mrs. Gaskell just as highly as my other favourite female author Jane Austen, if not higher. The ending was not as disappointing as I was expecting, although she died before she could complete it, at least we did get the general idea of what would happen, although the events were not told to us by her or written with her wit and skill.

I've just borrowed from the library, Mary Barton, which being set in her hometown of Manchester, during the "troubles" of the 1800's, I expect it will be very different from the gentle dramas of Cranford and Wives and Daughters. I also borrowed Gothic Tales, which again will be completely different.

I was in Knutsford last week, and I bought North and South as well. Knutsford was Mrs. Gaskell's home for a few years upon which Cranford was based and many of the events in the book she herself experienced. Cumnor Towers in Wives and Daughters is said to be based on Tatton Park, a mansion in Knutsford and the village of Hollingford was again based on Knutsford. I have been to Knutsford a few times and Tatton Park, but I was ignorant of Elizabeth Gaskell at the time, even though there are many areas in shops dedicated to her and her works and there is even a monument to her called Gaskell Towers, built in the late 19th century.

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I found out afterwards that she is buried in Knutsford, so next time I go I hope to find the grave of such a talented woman. :-)

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PostPosted: April 15th, 2008, 1:40 pm 
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wow, you're lucky you live in England, JF, so you can see all these amazing places. :P

anyway, I like Elizabeth Gaskell too (if you like Jane Austen is sorta hard not to like Elizabeth Gaskell, right?)... and I'm happy to see a thread started in honor of her work. For a while now (at least a year) I've really enjoyed the BBC tv series made for Wives and Daughters and even North and South. :yes: both of them are very well done. And for Christmas I got the book Wives and Daughters and, even though I haven't read it yet, my mom did and she said it was really good. So I will be getting around to reading it soon (especially with summer coming around the bend). ;) I need to know how accurate the series is to the book too. :P hm, I haven't really heard of her other writings though... cool. There's more out there dedicated to her than I thought. :-D

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PostPosted: April 16th, 2008, 11:15 am 
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Haha, I suppose it is (even if they don't show classic TV shows but ship them off the other countries instead). ;)

Yes, that's very true. If you like Jane Austen, you can't really not like EG. Gah, you've seen North and South as well? I really want to see that. :yes: I suppose I'll have to contend myself with reading the book for now. :P

She wrote quite a few books, more than Jane Austen anyway. :teehee:

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PostPosted: June 29th, 2008, 4:34 pm 
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Well, finally, I started reading Wives and Daughters several weeks ago and I'm about half way through it. I LOVE IT!!! :notworthy: I think I might even like it better than Pride and Prejudice. It's a brilliant book. :yes: and I think that the BBC series kept VERY close to it... :yes: like word for word sometimes. Both of them are amazing! :-D I think the cast they selected for the series fits pretty well too. Tom Hollander does a good job with Osborne even if sometimes he doesn't exactly fit the character... he was still really good in it. And Molly's actress (I don't know her name :blush:) is perfect! Like, in every way almost.
anyway, I am so happy with W&D. :happy: the book is amazing! And so well written. I love all the characters in it... Ms. Gaskell was a brilliant writer.

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PostPosted: June 29th, 2008, 6:58 pm 
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Hah! I was right when I said Tom didn't quite fit the description of Osbourne. :P I still can't wait to see the series though.

But I am soooo glad you like it. :yes: It is one of my favourite books, and although the ending was not completed or written as Elizabeth Gaskell no doubt would have written it, at least you find out exactly what happens to the characters and I'm sure you'll be satisfied with the overall outcome. :-)

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PostPosted: June 30th, 2008, 4:06 pm 
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lol, no Tom doesn't quite fit some of the descriptions... ;) but as far as ACTING like Osborne I think he did a pretty good job. But I guess you'll just have to see for yourself.... :P

So am I! And I can totally see how it could be one of your favorite books, JF... yeah, I know. :annoyed2: that's what my mom said and I've known that for a while too. It's too bad she wasn't able to finish it. *sigh* but maybe it's better to have some ending over no ending at all! :blink: that would be disappointing. I'm sure I'll like the ending anyway... at least I liked the ending the series gave it (whether it's the same in the book or not I still have to find out). ;)

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