Wives and Daughters

By: Elizabeth Gaskell

Narrated by: Nadia May

Length: 25 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Set in English society before the 1832 Reform Bill, Wives and Daughters centers on the story of youthful Molly Gibson, brought up from childhood by her father. When he remarries, a new stepsister enters Molly's quiet life, the loveable, but worldly and troubling, Cynthia. The narrative traces the development of the two girls into womanhood within the gossiping and watchful society of Hollingford.

(P)2002 Blackstone Audiobooks. Originally published in England between 1864 and 1866.

Terribly boring....

Terrific narrator! But what a boring book. Couldn't even get through to the end of the first download. Sorry I wasted my credit.

When reading can quicken the blood

This apparently unassuming tale of domestic life in a small village had me riveted. I cried, I laughed, I felt the betrayal, the indignation, the exultance, the quiet happiness. Gaskell's rendering of characters, place, and ethos is complex yet seemingly effortless. Nadia May is superb and one of my all time favorite narrators.

Wonderful book.

I plan to read the other books by this author if I can’t find them

Superb!

Superbly acted! Can understand how Gaskell holds a respected place alongside the Brontes and even Dickens!!!

Wonderful

What an exquisite story. The characters are so real, so human, so complex. Elizabeth Gaskell’s insight is at once incisive and beautifully compassionate. Wonderfully read by Nadia May.

Two girls on the verge of womanhood.

This is a lovely story about Molly Gibson, daughter of the town doctor and Cynthia Kirkpatrick, her new stepsister who is much more worldly than dear Molly.

We all have known women like Cynthia; they are so charming that men and women love to do things for them. My sister is like this. Once she had a date and hadn't done her housework so I volunteered to do it for her so she wouldn't miss out on her date. Only later, when I was doing her work, did I say to myself, " Why did I let her do this to me? She is out having fun and I am cleaning up her messes." Does that sound familiar?

Molly does end up cleaning some of Cynthia's messes and it could be catastrophic for her, had she not made some important friends along the way who clear her name.

Hyacinth Kirkpatrick is the one you love to hate. Although not an "evil" stepmother, she is probably the most self involved narcissist I have read about in many years.

This was Mrs. Gaskell's last book, left unfinished at her death, but the story winds down enough that you can see where she is going and who ends up with who at the end.

Mrs. Gaskell always writes wonderful characters and even Cynthia, who was neglected as a child is sympathetic and believable. Mrs. Kirkpatrick Gibson is harder to like but you can understand how she came to be who she came to be. Molly is the most enjoyable person in the book and there is no way you can't come away with an admiration of her character's ethics and likeability.

The men play a good part of the story and for the most part they are original and beautifully drawn.

This is a good story and it will capture your heart.

Great timeless story!

What did you love best about Wives and Daughters?

I loved the characters' complexity.

What did you like best about this story?

Gaskell kept my interest by interweaving so many different scenes and personalities.

Which scene was your favorite?

Although I did not admire her personality, my favorite scenes involved Mrs. Gibson portraying herself as one person while her words and actions showed her to be something completely different.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but impossible at 25 hours. I did not want the story to end.

Any additional comments?

This book makes me want to go back to reading 19th century fiction.

If you like Trollope...

You’ll love this as well. With a feminist heroine and good people trying to do right (although not always succeeding), it’s a bit of a relief from today’s world, which seems to have lost its compassion. These days, it seems hard times fall and no one lifts a hand to help; its pleasant to pretend there was a time people reached out to help others. All that said, warning: there are a few racist references concerning a character’s trip to Africa, and these statements go unchecked. But they don’t total more than 5 minutes in a 22 hour work...so you are allowed to forget it (if that’s okay with you)...

superb

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Wives and Daughters. The narrator provided a great service to Elizabeth Gaskill.

Refreshing historical writing style!

Is Gaskill was truly an inspiring writer of her time that is carried true through the decades. Her attention to detail of the period in which the story was written and the brilliant narration by Nadia was in enchanting.