Ruth

By: Elizabeth Gaskell

Narrated by: Eve Matheson

Length: 16 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

The orphaned heroine Ruth, apprenticed to a dressmaker, is seduced by wealthy Henry Bellingham who is captivated by her simplicity and beauty. Their affair causes her to lose her home and job to which he offers her shelter, only to cruelly abandon her soon after. She is offered a chance of a new life though shamed in the eyes of society by her illegitimate son. When Henry reappears offering marriage she must choose between social acceptance and her own pride. Ruth ultimately finds a path that affirms we are not bound to repeat our mistakes.

A social audiobook of love, family and hypocrisy, it examines the Victorian views about sin and the social stigma of illegitimacy. Gaskell is compassionate in her portrayal of Ruth who would normally be outcast from respectable society.

Ruth was the first mainstream novel to cast a 'fallen woman' in the role of heroine and inevitably caused controversy when published. It predates Hardy's own such heroine in Tess of the d'Urbervilles by nearly 40 years.

Gaskell was an accomplished writer and had much of her work published in Charles Dickens' magazine Household Words. She was also friends with Charlotte Brontë and after her death, her father, Patrick Brontë, chose Gaskell to write The Life of Charlotte Brontë.

Narrator Biography

As well as a substantial portfolio of voiceover work, Eve Matheson's career spans audiobooks, theatre, television, film and radio. She has narrated several audiobooks, including Tracy Chevalier's Falling Angels and Erica James' Act of Faith, and documentaries including Fermat's Last Theorem (1996) which won several awards including a BAFTA. On screen, she is best known for her roles as Becky Sharp in the 1987 BBC adaptation of the novel Vanity Fair and as Zoe Angell in May to December (1989-1990). She has frequently appeared at the Royal National Theatre and in the West End, playing roles such as Cordelia in King Lear, Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream and as Lady Anne in Richard III. From 2005-2006, she appeared as Mrs. Milcote in the original Royal National Theatre production of Helen Edmundson's Coram Boy. Her recent television appearances have included roles in Silent Witness (2015) and Call the Midwife (2014).

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

I wanted a happy ending

Loved the narration. The story was well written and held my interest, and I would have given five stars, but I felt cheated that the heroine died. I wasn't expecting it. I love happy endings.

OUTSTANDING

I almost never cry when I listen to audiobooks. “Ruth” had me in tears. What an amazing, beautifully written story. And so forward-thinking for its time, I can hardly fathom it! Nearly forty years before Thomas Hardy‘s “Tess,” and in my opinion, “Ruth” is the better. This book doesn’t receive half the fame it deserves. What a shame.

The narrator did a magnificent job, and I’ll keep my eye out for any other books she’s voiced. But for now, I will go have myself one last good cry for Elizabeth Gaskell’s “Ruth,” picturing her with the water lilies in her hair.

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wow. . . . . . .
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excellent

this book was very refreshing. God's grace and mercy shows throughout the story. Really fall in love with the main character.

A powerful story

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Gaskell’s writing is so descriptive and Eve Matheson’s characterizations are so empathetic. I did not anticipate most of the plot twists and so it was captivating until the end.

Great!

This was a great story and very well narrated. I enjoyed it thoroughly although this was a freebie to me. I have paid for many Audible books that were much less enjoyable!

Great Read!

I had never heard of this author or this book. What a hidden gem! A beautiful tale of a scorned woman used by God.

Absolutely Loved This Book!

The writing style of Elizabeth Gaskell made me picture scenes from Sense and Sensibility. The wording and the situations were so eloquent at times, that I had to pause and relish in the descriptions used. I loved this book and am now on the lookout for another book by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Fallen Woman Finds Redemption

Ruth, orphaned and alone at the age of 12, is lead astray at 16 by an affluent, self centered young man in his early 20's and then abandoned after she becomes pregnant. She is taken in by a kindly, sympathetic clergyman and his sister who share their home. Assuming the identity of a young widow, Ruth raises her child and is grateful for her good fortune and the generosity of those around her. After a dozen years, her secret of being an unwed mother is, through unexpected connections, revealed. She is then rejected and shunned by members of the community who had previously welcomed her into their homes. The rest of the story concerns Ruth's redemption; she is finally recognized and elevated for always putting the welfare of others ahead of her own. The novel is beautifully executed with a bittersweet ending. I have read and listed to a number of Elizabeth Gaskell's novels and have found each to be unique and memorable. The author balances sorrow and joy in equal parts.

Loved this book

It's a wonderful story about God, Christians, good, bad, conscious, unconscious people. So many things to consider. Highly recommend this book.