Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–65) lost her mother at an early age and was sent to live with her aunt in Knutsford, a country town outside Manchester which is often thought to bear a notable resemblance to the fictional Cranford. In this engaging biography, Esther Alice Chadwick (1862–1929) shows how many historical facts of Gaskell's life influenced her novels and stories - from the character of her home town to the sudden disappearance of her brother in India. Originally published in 1910, this was the first full biography of the author; the revised edition of 1913 is reissued here. It includes additional research, illustrations, and excerpts from Gaskell's letters, which provide a touching glimpse into the life of a writer who often felt herself torn between her intellectual and domestic duties. Still a major source for modern biographies, Chadwick's book remains an authoritative source for scholars and students of English literature.
Contents
Preface; 1. Birth, parentage, and ancestry; 2. Chelsea; 3. Knutsford; 4. Church House and Tatton Park, Knutsford; 5. Sandlebridge; 6. Stratford-on-Avon; 7. Chelsea; 8. Newcastle-on-Tyne; 9. Edinburgh; 10. Marriage; 11. Manchester (1832–42); 12. Manchester (1842–9); 13. Plymouth Grove, Manchester (1849–52); 14. Plymouth Grove (1852–6); 15. Silverdale; 16. Plymouth Grove (1857); 17. Plymouth Grove (1858–60); 18. Whitby; 19. Manchester (1860–5); 20. Last days at Manchester and Holybourne; 21. Gaskell memorials; Bibliography; Index.
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