Author: Elizabeth Gaskell
Published: 1866
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.5
Summary
An enchanting tale of romance, scandal, and intrigue in the gossipy English town of Hollingford around the 1830s, Wives and Daughters tells the story of Molly Gibson, the seventeen-year-old daughter of a widowed country doctor. When her father remarries, she forms a close friendship with her new stepsister—the beautiful and worldly Cynthia—until they become love rivals for the affections of Squire Hamley’s sons, Osbourne and Roger. When sudden illness and death reveal some secrets while shrouding others in even deeper mystery, Molly feels that the world is out of joint and it is up to her—trusted by all but listened to by none—to set it right.
Review
Great characters--both those you like and those you don't. Typical Victorian verbosity and length...but worth the time. The only disappointment is that missing last chapter (even though you know how it will end).
Notes
There is a great 1999 BBC movie version of W&D: it is well-cast and stays very close to the book.
