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Ruth (Victorian Fiction : Novels of Faith and Doubt)
  
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Ruth (Victorian Fiction : Novels of Faith and Doubt) (Hardcover)

by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (Author), Robert Lee Wolff (Author) "There is an assize-town in one of the eastern counties which was much distinguished by the Tudor sovereigns, and, in consequence of their favour and..." (more)
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 311 pages
  • Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Jun 1975)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0824015819
  • ISBN-13: 978-0824015817
  • Product Dimensions: 25.4 x 20.3 x 5.1 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Product Description

A young orphan, Ruth Hilton, is seduced and then abandoned by the wealthy Henry Bellingham. She is left to bring up her child in a society that offers her no protection and seems to punish such innocence. Taken in by a Dissenting minister in the guise of a widow, she is given a chance to bring up her son whom she loves above all else. But the condemnation of society always threatens, and despite Ruth's rejection of his belated offer of marriage, Bellingham's reappearance precipitates her exposure and rejection. Only her heroic self-sacrifice in the midst of a cholera epidemic regains her her position, but too late. This was a crusading novel when it was published in 1853, and aroused almost as much censure for its shocking scenes as it did sympathy for the heroine. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

SALES POINTS The most comprehensive paperback edition available Includes introduction, notes, selected criticism, further reading, text summary and chronology of Elizabeth Gaskell's life and times Reset with wide B format pages to give generous margins for notes An important addition to, and finally completing the Gaskell series in Everyman --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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There is an assize-town in one of the eastern counties which was much distinguished by the Tudor sovereigns, and, in consequence of their favour and protection, attained a degree of importance that surprises the modern traveller. Read the first page
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68 of 69 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Much more than a tragic story of a deceived girl, 4 Oct 2001
This review is from: Ruth (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
It's a shame that my review is the first one. Ruth is a classic, a must-read. Mrs. Gaskell deals in her novel with very serious problem of unmarried motherhood and double standards of judging men and women behavior. Why a wealthy young man who seduced and deserted a poor motherless girl is not to be blamed and not to pay for his guilt? And why a girl who has been too young, too innocent and too ignorant in sexual affairs is to suffer and to be an outcast in society? The heroine leads a virtuous life and does a lot of good after her so-called fall. Nevertheless the end of the book is tragic... Some critics find inconsistencies and exaggerations in the story. May be they are right. The author couldn't always choose the best way of presenting the heroine and circumstances. (Well, Hardy's more famous story of Tess of the DÚrbervilles is not also without faults.) Just imagine difficulties of writing of such book in Victorian society. Innocent as it is, Ruth was a scandal and was considered to be an improper reading for young people. Nowadays I would recommend the novel to any reader. It is interesting, intriguing, full of poetical nature descriptions and typical rural characters, the problem is sharp and up-to-day. Modern girls are neither naive nor ignorant. However... are they really wise in love affaires? Aren't they in danger of becoming voluntary victims of charming but spoiled young men? Read the book and judge for yourself.
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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An Underrated Classic, 31 Aug 2005
This review is from: Ruth (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
I came to this novel having just read North and South. As with North and South it takes time for Elizabeth Gaskell to set the scene and develop the central characters. But it is worth sticking with. The last 100 pages will take you on an emotional roller coaster. The central character's inherent goodness and selflessness only serves to highlight the hypocracy of those who claim to be the moral guardians of society. The central character feels so real and you cannot fail to be deeply affected by reading this novel.
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars superb moving book, 7 Jun 2008
By sarah-g (england) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Ruth (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
i have read this a couple of times now and it's beautiful. Combines the nasty realities of life with touching sentiment and beautifully crafted characters. Story follows a familiar theme with the lovely kind poor girl and rich cad....i don't want to spoil it...but it follows her through, the christian motif through it v strong and poignant with a heart breaking ending. Excellent
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