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.

This is heart-wrenching, but I'd read it again!

It took me a bit to get into it, I think because the narrator really irked me (not sure what she was trying to do with accents initially), but once I got through the first part I couldn't stop listening.

From a 21st century female perspective, many parts were enraging, and yet some of the shadows of the injustices for unmarried mothers still exist, which is even worse.

Very good

A very good book. I kept forgetting that it was actually written in the mid 1800s.
The performance was excellent, maybe even too good since the accents were sometimes hard to understand.

Enjoyable, sad, but hopeful

Well-written story, heartfelt, thoughtful and for the most part uplifting. The reader was pleasant and did a very good job with all the different characters. Highly recommended.

A Novel of Respectability

As in North and South, Gaskell explores the values and inequities of Victorian society here. The main character, a desperate young woman who has lost her job and has no family to assist her, falls prey to a handsome gent--it's the old "seduced and abandoned" theme. But Ruth gets a chance to redeem her life and to provide a happier future for her son--temporarily, of course. Although there are no surprises here (the story is quite predictable), Gaskell makes it interesting with her fine characterizations and understanding of the human heart.

my new favorite book, Ruth

I now have a new favorite book. Ruth.
Strikes to the heart of any Christian.

A true heartwarmer!

Such a lovely, touching story. Mrs Gaskell quietly guides us as we encounter and hold all that makes us human. Every word reminded me that life is far too short to miss every moment of kindness and compassion we can provide to one another. Bravo!

Stayed up all night listening

I had never heard of this book before. It’s a gripping story about the life of a orphan. She overcomes hardship and many struggles.

Sublime reading by Eve Matheson

The jewel of this audio recording is the voice of Eve Matheson. Her sensitive reading brings Ruth to life.

Good Story, but a bit too predictable

I enjoy Gaskell's work, espeically her social conscious. When this book was written, to be compassionate towards an unwed mother was very unlikely so I am thankful she tried to be a voice to many young women who were ignorant of sex and had no caring guardians and therefore often ended up pregnant and abandoned. The story is good, but predictable. However, sometimes one needs a happy ending. We hear of too many unhappy endings for unwed mothers and their children in the "good old days"

Beautiful story

I laughed and cried and smiled sweetly of the events in this book. Sweet Ruth certainly did her best to be a blessing to everyone she crossed paths with. What an inspiration she was to all in her small world.