“Really it is very wholesome exercise, this trying to make one’s words represent one’s thoughts, instead of merely looking to their effect on others.”
E. Gaskell, Cousin Phillis
Welcome to the 11th stop on the Elizabeth Gaskell 200th Anniversary Blog Tour! I chose to dive into Mrs. Gaskell’s novellas, so after some online search and a lot of indecision I decided to review three of them (a bit ambitious, I know, but I just couldn’t choose): Mr. Harrison’s Confessions (1851) and Lady Ludlow (1959), both part of the Cranford Chronicles, and Cousin Phillis (1964), which according to the Literary Encyclopedia, “has been called the most perfect story in English”. They can all be read online for free. Please also note that there will be some spoilers in the reviews.
You’ll be happy to know that one lucky commenter will win a copy of an unabridged edition of North and South by Naxos AudioBooks read by Clare Willie. Deadline to leave your 2-cents is midnight US Pacific-time on 7 October. The winner will be drawn from names from all the posts in the Tour on 8 October (CD shipments to US and Canada, download for all other countries). Good luck to all of The Sleepless Reader’s commenters, I’m rooting for you!
Enjoy and Happy Gaskell anniversary 🙂
Mr Harrison’s Confessions (1851)
I think Gaskell had fun writing this one. You can just imagine her stopping for a minute to chuckle contentedly and even sharing the joke with her husband, who raising his head from the newspaper asks “what’s so funny?” or better, “pray my dear, what amuses you so?”
In the opening scene, Mr. Harrison is enjoying the quiet comforts of his home with a visiting friend. When Mrs Harrison leaves for bed, his friend asks him the secret to “wooing and winning” such a wife and Mr. Harrison readily agrees to tell his story.
After his studies, Mr. Harrison accepts a proposal of partnership from a country doctor who has been supporting his career, so he moves to the small village of Duncombe. The long-term objective is for Mr. Harrison to take over the practice completely once Mr. Morgan is ready to retire. In Duncombe our hero plays the part of the proverbial inexperienced and single gentleman trapped in a village ruled by middle-aged women. These ladies’ enthusiasm and skills at matchmaking rival those of Emma Woodhouse, so what follows is a delightful comedy of errors. It is wickedly funny to see poor Mr. Harrison innocently trying to conquer the woman he truly loves while a web is being weaved around him. At some point and for reasons beyond his control he finds himself engaged to three different women in the village, while shunned by the lovely Sophy.
Gaskell develops her story in a way that allows us to clearly see what is about to befall the young hero and so creates an atmosphere of amused complicity between author and reader.
Mr. Harrison’s Confessions is a quick, charming read, but as with Cranford, don’t expect a lot of plot. What you can expect are some fine examples of what Gaskell does better than anyone: images of domestic scenes. Here is Mr. Harrison description of Sophy’s home:
There were books and work about, and tokens of employment; there was a child’s plaything on the floor, and against the sea green walls there hung a likeness or two, done in water colours (…). The chairs an sofa were covered with chintz, the same as the curtains – a little pretty red rose on white ground. I don’t know where the crimson came from, I’m sure there was crimson somewhere; perhaps in the carpet. There was a glass door besides the window, and you went up a step to get into the garden.
I want to be there, in that room, or at least I want my own home to have the same feeling of coziness.
***** ***** *****
Follow this link to the next review on the Elizabeth Gaskell Bicenterary Blog Tour, my thoughts on My Lady Ludlow.
The other stops on the Tour:
Biography
- 1.) Elizabeth Gaskell’s life and times: Vic – Jane Austen’s World
Novels/Biography
- 2.) Mary Barton (1848) Book: Kelly – Jane Austen Sequel Examiner
- 3.) Cranford (2007) Movie: Laura – The Calico Critic
- 4.) Ruth (1853) Book: Joanna – Regency Romantic
- 5.) North and South (1854–5) Book: Laurel Ann – Austenprose
- 6.) North and South (2004) Movie: Maria – Fly High
- 7.) Sylvia’s Lovers (1863) Book: Courtney – Stiletto Storytime
- 8.) Wives and Daughters (1865) Book: Katherine – November’s Autumn
- 9.) Wives and Daughters (1999) Movie: Elaine – Random Jottings
- 10.) The Life of Charlotte Bronte (1857) Book & (1973) Movie, The Brontes of Haworth: JaneGS – Reading, Writing, Working, Playing
Novellas – me!
- 11.) Mr. Harrison’s Confessions (1851)
- 12.) My Lady Ludlow (1859)
- 13.) Cousin Phillis (1864)
Resources
- 14.) Your Gaskell Library – Links to MP3′s, ebooks, audio books, other downloads and reading resources available online: Janeite Deb – Jane Austen in Vermont
- 15.) Plymouth Grove – A Visit to Elizabeth Gaskell’s home in Manchester: Tony Grant – London Calling
17 comments
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September 29, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Linda B
Loved your review. Some time ago I watched Cranford, reading your review I was able to picture and remember the joy of that story. Now I need to get the book and read it for myself. Thanks.
September 30, 2010 at 9:47 am
Alex
Also loved the adaptation… having Simon Woods playing the Dr also helped 😉
September 30, 2010 at 12:03 am
Felicia
This (Mr. Harrison’s Confessions) is one that is now on my list to purchase. Very nice review!
September 30, 2010 at 2:04 am
Vic
I am learning so much as I go from blog to blog on this tour. I had no idea she had written this novella. Splendid. There will be plenty of Gaskell for me to read!
September 30, 2010 at 10:41 am
Alex
And I still ahve to read Ruth and Sylvia’s lovers. I’m glad that unlike Jane Austen, she gave us so much to enjoy!
September 30, 2010 at 4:34 am
JaneGS
After reading so much of death and dying, heartache and misery, I remember the joy I felt at reading a light story by Gaskell. I was thrilled to find it included in Return to Cranford and quite fell in love with Mr. Harrison.
Definitely a comedy of errors! And I liked your imaginings about the Gaskells chuckling over it together.
September 30, 2010 at 11:01 am
Alex
I always thought Elizabeth Gaskell was someone who could easily be my friend. I can imagine long Sunday afternoon of hot tea, delicate embroidery and light gossip…
September 30, 2010 at 5:52 am
Laurel Ann
Hi Alex, I want to be in that room too. This sounds charming and I appreciate your great synopsis. Must add it to my TBR pile.
Thanks again for reading 3 novella’s and participating in the blog tour. You are a great addition.
Cheers, Laurel Ann
September 30, 2010 at 11:09 am
Alex
Hi Laurel, thank you for letting me in last minute! It was such a pleasure to be in the group with all of those famous blogs that I’ve been folling for ages 🙂 I enjoyed every minute of it.
September 30, 2010 at 7:39 am
AprilFool
Mr Harrison was a delight – but certainly not all lightness. It has plenty of tears too.
September 30, 2010 at 11:19 am
Alex
I must admit to some tears in the chapter about Shopy’s little brother… sniff!
October 1, 2010 at 3:54 am
AprilFool
That was the bit I had in mind.
Another thing that stayed with me in a nagging, where-did-I-read-that kind of way was the part about him saving the man’s limb, and the other doctors accusing him of being afraid to do the amputation! The problem was, I attached the memory to Dr. Lydgate in Middlemarch, so I was never able find it again until I reread Mr Harrison when I saw Cranford.
September 30, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Tony Grant
Sounds like a real hoot.
Now if there were really a set of rules somewhere that could be followed to ensure meeting the right partner.
It would be fun trying them out.
I’m married already, so maybe some of you lot.
All the best,
Tony
October 1, 2010 at 1:48 am
Susan
From your review, I can see that this is a definite must-read. I did enjoy the doctor in the film version and now definitely want to read the novella. Thank you for contributing this nice post to the tour!
October 2, 2010 at 3:25 pm
RegencyRomantic
Oh, definitely must read this one! After watching the adaptation and reading Cranford, I did wonder why the story of the Doctor wasn’t there… so, here it is, in fact!
Thanks for this enticing review, Alex! =)
October 2, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Cinthia
Thank you very much for this review. This is one of the Gaskell novellas which I have not read, although I am aware it was interwoven in the script of the Cranford miniseries, I think I will include at last in my winter readings, since I believe the domestic scenes are quite fit for the season.
October 3, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Shelley
Since watching the series of Cranford, I’ve wanted to read this and Lady Ludlow. Thanks for mentioning they can be read online!