Ruth (Penguin Classics) - Softcover

Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell; Angus Easson

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140434305 ISBN 13: 9780140434309

Publisher: Penguin Classics, 1997

Synopsis

Ruth Hilton is an orphaned young seamstress who catches the eye of a gentleman, Henry Bellingham, who is captivated by her simplicity and beauty. When she loses her job and home, he offers her comfort and shelter, only to cruelly desert her soon after. Nearly dead with grief and shame, Ruth is offered the chance of a new life among people who give her love and respect, even though they are at first unaware of her secret - an illegitimate child. When Henry enters her life again, however, Ruth must make the impossible choice between social acceptance and personal pride. In writing Ruth, Elizabeth Gaskell daringly confronted prevailing views about sin and illegitimacy with her compassionate and honest portrait of a 'fallen woman'.

About this title

Review:

"A generally good teaching edition at a reasonable price."--Christopher C. Dahl, University of Michigan, Dearborn"Essential that this remain in print for Victorian culture studies."--Linda Shires, Syracuse University"I'm happy that you have made Ruth affordable for classroom use. Ruth illuminates many of the conflicts over 'the fallen woman' as Christian martyr or feminist hero seen in more famous Victorian novels such as Tess and The Scarlet Letter. Your edition is well-edited and readably printed."--Dr. Jeanette Shumaker, San Diego State University (Imperial Valley Branch)"OUP is the only publisher of this in paperback. It's a significant book for any Victorian literature course and particularly for one on Victorian women."--Eleanor McNees, University of Denver

Book Description:

¿She had no penitence, no consciousness of error or offence; no knowledge of any one circumstance but that he was gone.¿

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0140434305
• ISBN 13: 9780140434309
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432