Ruth

By Elizabeth Gaskell

Book Overview

Elizabeth Gaskell's Ruth (1853) was the first mainstream novel to make a fallen woman its eponymous heroine. It is a remarkable story of love, of the sanctuary and tyranny of the family, and of the consequences of lies and deception, one that lays bare Victorian hypocrisy and sexual double-standards. Shocking to contemporary readers, its radical utopian vision of "a pure woman faithfully presented" predates Hardy's Tess by nearly forty years. This fully revised and corrected new edition is based on the three-volume first edition of 1853, collated with the one-volume 1855 edition. Tim Dolin's fascinating new introduction challenges the view of Ruth as one of Gaskell's weaker novels and explores its radicalism and cultural influence, highlighting the remarkable story of love, family, and hypocrisy that it tells. In addition, the book includes an up-to-date bibliography, a chronology of Gaskell's life and work, and invaluable notes that shed much light on the book's historical, religious, and literary allusions and points of significance.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0199581959
• ISBN13: 9780199581955
• Release Date: June 2011
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Elizabeth Gaskell hasn't failed me yet.

Beautifully written novel. One of my favorites. Is it a slow read? Yes. But not obnoxiously slow. Just slow enough so that you can savor it. Wasn't too impressed with this edition though. Quite bulky and low quality.

Ruth

As usual Elizabeth Gaskell highlights for us issues of the day and the problems they produce. These are presented to us in a very good read..I will look for other books by this author

Better than any modern novel!

I picked up "Ruth" at a used book store looking for a good book to read on my vacation. Once I started, it was hard to put down! I finished the last chapters while waiting in a hot parked car for my husband - I was so engaged in the book, I didn't even notice I'd been there for a couple hours! By the time my hubby got back to the car, I was still drying my eyes from all the tears shed, and thinking that I want to name my first child Ruth! I admire Gaskell for taking on the social and religious condemnation of single mothers - and for creating a character that so successfully redeemed herself of sin! I loved the theological questions raised by the characters regarding forgiveness and acceptance. And I loved Ruth's determination, the love and support she received from her adopted family, and the faith that she maintained despite pain and rejection from the community around her. If you like Austin, Dickens, Burney, etc. you will enjoy this book!

Quiet Brilliance

Elizabeth Gaskell is often referred to as the forgotten classic author and "Ruth" is a prime introduction into this obviously complex and passionate woman. "Ruth" is a truly brilliant novel dealing with the issue of a fallen woman due to an illicit affair and subsequent birth of a bastard child. This, due to the societal assumptions of morality and righteousness, lead the main character into a series of deceptions and tribulations in an attempt at redemption. Gaskell's eloquent prose engrosses the reader into the lives of the multiple characters and as it is in three volumes, much time is spent developing each individual. This allows for a true feeling and understanding of the motives and meanings behind every action. The character of Ruth is obviously the most important and Gaskell allows her to develop into an almost Christ-like figure in her beliefs, faith and actions. "Ruth" is a novel that tackles incredibly sensitive and deep subject matter and reaffirms ones belief in a higher power. This is a novel that should be introduced back into the mainstream to achieve the stature that it deserves as a classic of literature.