The Elizabeth Gaskell Library

Elizabeth Gaskell

Welcome, dear listener, to The Elizabeth Gaskell Library, a quiet corner of the airwaves devoted to the pleasure of unhurried reading. Here you will find the novels and tales of Mrs Gaskell - stories of bustling mills and peaceful parlours, of steadfast friendships, small kindnesses, and hearts tested by circumstance.

Wander through the smoky streets of Milton and sit awhile in the drawing rooms of Cranford, this podcast offers a moment’s refuge from the noise of modern life. Settle in with a cup of tea, and let each story unfold as it once did: patiently, thoughtfully, and in good company.

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40 episodes
daily
Avg 26 min
English

Episodes 40

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S13 · E7
Yesterday · 19 min
The Moorland Cottage Chapter VII
In which the stern and exacting Mr. Henry arrives to scrutinise the Buxtons' estate affairs, revealing painful breaches of trust that unsettle the family and raise sombre reflections on the corrupting power of money and the responsibilities of wealth....
- Transcript
S13 · E6
Friday · 24 min
The Moorland Cottage Chapter VI
In which the complex aspirations and temperaments of the Buxton family unfold amidst the delicate announcement of an engagement that disrupts long-held expectations, revealing quiet tensions and tender sympathies beneath their genteel exterior....
- Transcript
S13 · E5
Thursday · 32 min
The Moorland Cottage Chapter V
In which the quiet routine of Christmas at the moorland cottage is touched by delicate social contrasts and the tender stirrings of young affection, while family hopes and misgivings unfold gently and without haste. The story lingers on the nuanced...
- Transcript
S13 · E4
Wednesday · 20 min
The Moorland Cottage Chapter IV
In which the passing years bring quiet changes to the lives of the Buxtons and the Brownes, with Edward’s decision to pursue law rather than the clergy stirring reflections on duty and character, while the looming shadow of illness and loss touches...
- Transcript
S13 · E3
Tuesday · 24 min
The Moorland Cottage Chapter III
In which young Maggie bears the departure of her brother Edward with a mixture of sorrow and hope, finding solace in unexpected friendship and kind-hearted visits that awaken her imagination and tender character. The contrasts of childhood...
- Transcript
S13 · E2
Monday · 21 min
The Moorland Cottage Chapter II
In which a visit to the Buxtons’ grand house introduces little Maggie to a world of refinement and the delicate charms of new acquaintances, amidst the tender contrasts of wealth and simplicity. The children’s encounters and the quiet attentions paid...
- Transcript
S13 · E1
October 4 · 26 min
The Moorland Cottage Chapter I
In which we are gently introduced to the quiet life of Mrs. Browne and her two children, Edward and Maggie, nestled in their secluded moorland home near Combehurst, where tender memories and daily chores intertwine with the untouched beauty of nature....
- Transcript
S12 · E16
October 3 · 22 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 16
In which Ellinor Wilkins, worn and sorrowful, seeks the counsel of Judge Corbet to unveil a grave secret that has long shadowed her family, setting the stage for quiet revelations and renewed ties. Through tender and measured discourse, the past’s...
- Transcript
S12 · E15
October 2 · 24 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 15
In which Ellinor, burdened by a heavy conscience and tender compassion, seeks admission to the prison where old Dixon awaits his fate, finding courage to comfort him in his desolation despite the rigid formalities that surround such condemned souls....
- Transcript
S12 · E14
October 1 · 13 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 14
In which a gentle journey to Hellingford is marked by the delicate exchange of confidences and the stirring of deep resolves, as Ellinor confronts the shadow of a grave accusation that weighs heavily upon innocent and guilty alike. The quiet...
- Transcript
S12 · E13
September 30 · 12 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 13
In which Ellinor confronts the harrowing news of Dixon’s indictment, and wrestles with her resolve to return to England to support the old servant in his direst hour, despite the advice and sympathy of friends who would have her stay. A voyage fraught...
- Transcript
S12 · E12
September 29 · 42 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 12
In which the gentle course of years flows quietly for Miss Wilkins, interrupted by the arrival of Canon Livingstone and the sudden shadow cast by a grievous charge against the faithful old servant, drawing her back to the weight of a painful past and...
- Transcript
S12 · E11
September 28 · 17 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 11
In which Miss Monro finds a new post among the canons of East Chester, offering a fresh beginning for herself and the withdrawn Ellinor, who seeks solace in the city's quiet cathedral close and its devout community. As life in the Close unfolds with...
- Transcript
S12 · E10
September 27 · 19 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 10
In which Ralph Corbet, burdened by uncertainties and altered family relations, decides to end his engagement with Ellinor, who receives his farewell letter with a composed sorrow that softens the blow yet deepens her melancholy. Meanwhile, Ellinor...
- Transcript
S12 · E9
September 26 · 42 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 9
In which young Ralph Corbet wrestles with the silent burdens that obscure his betrothal to Ellinor, encountering the troubled realities of her family and the creeping shadow of an unspoken disgrace. Amidst delicate domestic care and social...
- Transcript
S12 · E8
September 25 · 29 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 8
In which Ellinor, newly recovered yet still haunted by shadows of past troubles, endeavours to confront the weight of family disgrace with the steadfast kindness of those around her, while her suitor Ralph Corbet seeks to unravel the tangled mysteries...
- Transcript
S12 · E7
September 24 · 30 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 7
In which a young lady strives with courage to conceal a distressing family secret, even as those around her express concern and affection, unaware of the true burden she bears. The household is shadowed by sorrow and strained silence, while tender...
- Transcript
S12 · E6
September 23 · 33 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 6
In which the tender bloom of early love and the bright hopes of youth are shadowed by unforeseen sorrow and a tragic incident that compels secretive and heavy-hearted acts amid the solemn stillness of night. The gentle narrative draws us quietly into...
- Transcript
S12 · E5
September 22 · 30 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 5
In which the tender hopes and whispered engagements of young lovers are set against the rigid expectations and social standings of their families, revealing the delicate negotiations and modest sorrows accompanying such alliances. Observing the gentle...
- Transcript
S12 · E4
September 21 · 25 min
A Dark Night's Work Chapter 4
In which the quiet progression of a year reveals the delicate transformation of young Ellinor from a lively child to a poised maiden, as new attachments quietly bloom under unobservant eyes, amidst the gentle rhythms of country life and family...
- Transcript

Showing 1–20 of 40 episodes