Wives and Daughters

By: Elizabeth Gaskell

Narrated by: Prunella Scales

Length: 25 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

Molly Gibson, the only daughter of a widowed doctor in the small provincial town of Hollingford, lost her mother when she was a child. Her father remarries wanting to give Molly the woman's presence he feels she lacks. To Molly, any stepmother would have been a shock, but the new Mrs. Gibson is a self-absorbed, petty widow, and Molly's unhappiness is compounded by the realisation that her father has come to regret his second marriage.

Although Molly resents her stepmother, she befriends her new step-sister, Cynthia, who is loveable, but worldly and troubling. The audiobook chronicles their maturation into womanhood within the confines of the gossiping and watchful society of Hollingford.

As Molly matures and falls in love she learns to judge people for what they are, not what they seem. Through Molly, the social values and changes of early 19th-century England are brought to life in this timeless representation of human relationships. The audiobook is more than just a nostalgic story of village life, it offers an ironic critique of mid-Victorian society.

Known as her last, longest, and perhaps finest work, it was not quite complete when Gaskell died suddenly in 1865. The last section was written by Frederick Greenwood.

Narrator Biography

Prunella Scales is a classically trained stage actress but is best known for her role as Sybil Fawlty in the BBC comedy Fawlty Towers (1975-1979) and for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in A Question of Attribution (1991) for which she was nominated a BAFTA. Her film appearances have included Stiff Upper Lips (1997), Howard's End (1992), and Wolf (1994). She was awarded the CBE for her services to drama in 1992 and the Patricia Rothermere Award for her contributions to British Theatre in 2001. More recent appearances have included the mini-series The Shell Seekers (2006), a production of Carrie's War at the Apollo Theatre (2009), Horrid Henry: The Movie (2013) and a guest appearance in the popular BBC radio comedy Cabin Pressure (2013). Julian Barnes' The Lemon Table and Anne Fine's Charm School are among the many audiobooks Prunella Scales has narrated.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

A Classic

I love the works of Elizabeth Gaskell. Some outdated notions on race, but also of class, so I try to judge by the sentiments of the time in which it was written. Thankful for society’s progress.

most beloved book

I came to love all the characters as if I was a member of the family. Beautiful story.

Exquisite!

I was so sad when the novel ended for I could have listened to this beautiful work of art for many more hours!

Superb! Story and Narration A++

A committed Jane Austen fan, I first discovered Mrs Gaskell through BBC mini-series adaptations of her books whilst casting around for something similar to Jane.
The story itself is wonderfully written with characters that shine. There is subtly of character, humor, and character that you will love and love to hate.
But what really sets this one apart is Prunella Scales' absolutely superb narration, which the sample does not do justice to. She is able to read the male and female characters, upper and middle class accents, and local dialect accents wonderfully. I am English myself, and was so impressed by her range and accuracy. I shall certainly be looking out for more books read by Ms Scales -- bravo!
So if you are a fan of light but subtle, well-written period drama's (this is set in a country town in Victorian England) a la Jane Austen, give this a try - you won't be disappointed.

The very best of Gaskell

I have listened to "Wives and Daughters" twice and it was even better on second listen. All the characters are well drawn, but Cynthia steals the show; busily breaking hearts while her selfishly obtuse mother works little miseries upon all who are nearest and dearest.
This is one of Mrs. Gaskell's most humorous books with a flavor of Jane Austen.
The reader does full justice to "Wives and Daughters" and brings all the characters to life.

A Different World

What a relief to escape the meaness of our current world - to spend 25 hours in the better place depicted in this book.

Enchantment and Wisdom

Prunella Scales brings great variety to the characters here, and her superb reading allows us to savor the profound depths of Elizabeth Gaskell's masterpiece. It's a great narrative of a great novel -- I didn't want it to end, and Ms. Scales is able to give us every character distinctly. A real triumph. I wish she read more Victorian novels!

Most Excellent Performance

Would you consider the audio edition of Wives and Daughters to be better than the print version?

The book and its author are great favorites of mine, but the performance was immensely more enjoyable.

What did you like best about this story?

Mrs. Gaskell's nuanced characterization is superb.

What does Prunella Scales bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Prunella Scales not only gives a very unique performance for each of the main characters, she adds her own sensitive interpretation of them as well.

Who was the most memorable character of Wives and Daughters and why?

It is difficult to choose... I loved Ms. scales' Dr. Gibson best I think. But the maturity of Molly's voice with the passage of time was also very well done and Mrs. Gibson was superb!

Any additional comments?

I have also purchased Prunella Scales' performance of Mrs. Gaskell's Cranford, but I wish she had covered all her major novels including North and South.

Didn't know this was unfinished!

I wish I had known beforehand that the author passed away before being able to finish writing it! The scene where they finally come together in the end is my favorite part of these kinds of books, and I'm sad I didn't get to enjoy that. Such a lovely story and characters otherwise.

A Wonderful Classic Brought to Life

Could not have asked for a better narrator than Prunella Scales! So enjoyed listening to this classic novel by Elizabether Gaskell, one of the most underrated novelists of her time.