Celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Elizabeth Gaskell’s Birth with a Blog Tour on September 29, 2010
2010 marks the bicentenary of mid-Victorian novelist and short story writer Elizabeth Gaskell’s birth on September 29, 1810 near London. Best known for her detailed and sensitive portrayals of English social strata, her novels are cherished by literature lovers and social historians for their honest depiction of life of the rich and the poor from the first half of the nineteenth century. Four of her books have also been brought vividly to the screen in television mini-series adaptations: The Brontes of Haworth (1973), Wives and Daughters (1999), Cranford (2007) and Return to Cranford (2009).
To honor Elizabeth Gaskell’s literary achievement, please join me and other fellow Gaskell enthusiasts for a blog tour in celebration of her birthday. Visit any of the participant’s blogs on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 to read about her life and times, and reviews of books and movie film adaptations. There you will also find a link to take you to the next blog on the tour. Enjoy!
The links to the participants' blogs will be updated on September 29 so you can go directly to the posts on the tour.
Biography
Elizabeth Gaskell’s life and times: Vic – Jane Austen’s World
Novels/Biography
Mary Barton (1848) Book: Kelly – Jane Austen Sequel Examiner
Cranford (2007) Movie: Laura – The Calico Critic
Ruth (1853) Book: Joanna – Regency Romantic
North and South (1854–5) Book: Laurel Ann – Austenprose
North and South (2004) Movie: Maria – Fly High
Sylvia's Lovers (1863) Book: Courtney – Stiletto Storytime
Wives and Daughters (1865) Book: Katherine – November’s Autumn
Wives and Daughters (1999) Movie: Elaine – Random Jottings
The Life of Charlotte Brontë (1857) Book & (1973) Movie The Brontes of Haworth: JaneGS – Reading, Writing, Working, Playing
Novellas
Mr. Harrison’s Confessions (1851) Book: Alexandra – The Sleepless Reader
My Lady Ludlow (1859) Book: Alexandra – The Sleepless Reader
Cousin Phillis (1864) Book: Alexandra – The Sleepless Reader
Resources
Your Gaskell Library: Links to MP3's, ebooks, audio books, other downloads and reading resources available online: Janite Deb – Jane Austen in Vermont
Plymouth Grove – A visit to Elizabeth Gaskell’s home in Manchester: Tony Grant – London Calling
Giveaway
Naxos AudioBooks has graciously offered an unabridged copy of North and South as a giveaway. Shipment to US and Canada or international download. Anyone leaving a comment on any of the Gaskell blog posts will qualify for the giveaway. Contest will run one week September 29 – October 7 to midnight Pacific time. Winner announced on October 8 on all of our blogs.
Hope you can join us for a slice of cyber cake for a truly wonderful Victorian author.
And now, to whet your appetite, here is a passage from Gaskell's The Life of Charlotte Bronte.
...she began, in this time of care and depressing inquietude, in those grey, weary, uniform streets; where all faces, save that of her kind doctor, were strange and untouched with sunlight to her, - there and then, did the brave genius begin 'Jane Eyre.'
What a wonderful idea! I love it. I am now re-reading "Mrs. Gaskell" as she was known in my youth and she holds up wonderfully well.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm more excited about this than my own birthday! I wish I had time to read one of her books to celebrate, but that's not likely. I may try though, and I'm looking forward to visiting all the blogs!
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