Wives and DaughtersSet 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-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. Wives and Daughters is far more than a nostalgic evocation of village life; it offers an ironic critique of mid-Victorian society. "No nineteenth-century novel contains a more devastating rejection than this of the Victorian male assumption of moral authority," writes Pam Morris in her introduction to this edition, in which she explores the novel's main themes-the role of women, Darwinism, and the concept of Englishness-and its literary and social context. |
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afraid Aimée Ashcombe began believe CHAPTER child Clare coming Cornhill Magazine Cousin Phillis Coxe Cynthia daresay dear dinner door drawing-room dress Elizabeth Gaskell eyes face fancy father feel felt friends Gaskell girl give glad gone Goodenough Hamley Hall Hamley's hand hear heard heart hope kind knew Lady Cumnor Lady Harriet letter London look Lord Cumnor Lord Hollingford mamma manner marriage married mind Miss Browning Miss Gibson Miss Phoebe Molly Gibson Molly's morning mother never nosegay once Osborne Hamley Osborne's papa perhaps pleasant poor Preston pretty remember replied Roger Hamley round seemed Sheepshanks silence smile sorry speak spoke squire squire's suppose sure Sylvia's Lovers talk tell there's thing thought told took Towers turned voice Whig wife wish Wives and Daughters woman wonder words