The Athenaeum beautifully describes Elizabeth Gaskell as "If not the most popular, the most powerful and finished female novelist of an epoch singularly rich in female novelists". Gaskell was an accomplished short story author and English novelist of the Victorian era. Motherhood and family obligations kept her busy throughout her life. However, she was deeply saddened by her only son's death. The incident inspired her to write 'Mary Barton', her first novel in 1848. The novel attracted immense popularity and critical attention from renowned writers like Thomas Carlyle and Charles Dickens. Elizabeth Gaskell is best known for "The life of Charlotte Bronte" (1857), a biography that was written with dedication and admiration. It expressed Gaskell's impressive narrative skills and the way she penned down firsthand facts in great details. Dickens invited her to write in his personal magazine 'Household Words'. Thereafter, she established herself as a renowned writer with 'Cranford' in 1853. Her notable works include 'North and South' (1854), 'Sylvia's Lover' (1863) and the 'Cranford Chronicles' (1881). Her novels magnificently portrayed the lives of individuals from different social strata, mainly the poor. Elizabeth Gaskell also focused on literature lovers and social historians and gave a detailed description of their ideologies. Unfortunately, her life's longest novel 'Wives and Daughters' was left incomplete with her death. Elizabeth Gaskell’s words have lived on through ages. We have curated some of her famous quotes from her writings and life. Here are some of her wise quotes to show why her words have lived through ages.
A wise parent humors the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease.
Elizabeth Gaskell
He shrank from hearing Margaret's very name mentioned; he, while he blamed her--while he was jealous of her--while he renounced her--he loved her sorely, in spite of himself.
Elizabeth Gaskell
He shook hands with Margaret. He knew it was the first time their hands had met, though she was perfectly unconscious of the fact.
Thinking has, many a time, made me sad, darling; but doing never did in all my life....My precept is, do something, my sister, do good if you can; but at any rate, do something.
Those who are happy and successful themselves are too apt to make light of the misfortunes of others.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Loyalty and obedience to wisdom and justice are fine; but it is still finer to defy arbitrary power, unjustly and cruelly used--not on behalf of ourselves, but on behalf of others more helpless.
Oh, my Margaret--my Margaret! no one can tell what you are to me! Dead--cold as you lie there you are the only woman I ever loved! Oh, Margaret--Margaret!