The Gaskell Society and its partners host a year-round programme of meetings and special events, most of which are open to everyone. We’re very friendly – and we’d love to meet you, whether or not you choose to join the Society.
July 2019
“My Dear Mr Ruskin…” Friendship, Inspiration and Scandal
From July 2019 Elizabeth Gaskell’s House will be exploring the friendship between the Gaskell family and John Ruskin in a new year-long exhibition as part of The Ruskin Bicentenary. Often at odds with their contemporaries, John Ruskin and Elizabeth Gaskell were controversial writers, often sharing the same ideals. Elizabeth openly took sides when Ruskin’s wife, Effie, left him, commenting in a letter that “…She really is very close to a charming character; if she had had the small pox she…
Find out more »Narratives of Ageing in the Nineteenth Century
Organisers: Dr Amy Culley, Dr Alice Crossley, Dr Rebecca Styler 9.00 Registration (open plan area outside lifts, floor 3: or turn right at the top of the stairs) 9.45 Welcome (ATB3116) 10.00 Panel session 1 (see below for details of panel papers - abstracts on conference website) 1A Writing and Im/maturity (ATB3101) 1B Ageing as Decline? (ATB3202) 11.20 Coffee break 11.40 Panel sessions: 2A Women Ageing with Authority(ATB3101) 2B Recovering the Ageing Body (ATB3202) 1.00 Lunch (provided) 2.00 Panel sessions:…
Find out more »August 2019
Dialect in Elizabeth Gaskell’s Work
Don’t be frabbit – join us for a talk on Elizabeth Gaskell’s use of local dialect in her work. Unless you’re too nesh, that is! Find out more, as academic researcher Georgia Thurston discusses the rich Lancashire dialect that helps to bring Gaskell’s characters, and the Manchester of Victorian times, to life. And take a look in William Gaskell’s study while you’re here – he was so knowledgeable about dialect that he even gave lectures on it, and you’ll find…
Find out more »September 2019
Victorian Book Group – Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family
June's meeting is all about Thomas Mann's classic novel. Now in its 4th year, the Victorian book group continues its focus on reading (and rereading) classic works of fiction. Our scope spans the long nineteenth century and often includes neo-Victorian novels. We are especially interested in writings by and about women, and always feature one work by Elizabeth Gaskell. In 2019, we will explore the genre of the family saga and continue our investigation of how the British novel developed…
Find out more »Elizabeth Gaskell’s Birthday Talk: Elizabeth Gaskell and Gossip
We’re celebrating Elizabeth Gaskell’s birthday with a glass of wine and a good gossip! The Gaskell Society’s Elizabeth Williams will discuss Elizabeth Gaskell’s sharp eye and sharper tongue in this fascinating talk on Gaskell and gossip. Is gossip just malicious tittle-tattle, or could it be a compelling kind of story-telling? Find out more, as we delve into Elizabeth Gaskell’s writings to decide just what her gossip entails! Please join us for a complimentary glass of wine prior to the talk…
Find out more »October 2019
Victorian Book Group – The Age of Innocence
June's meeting is all about Thomas Mann's classic novel. Now in its 4th year, the Victorian book group continues its focus on reading (and rereading) classic works of fiction. Our scope spans the long nineteenth century and often includes neo-Victorian novels. We are especially interested in writings by and about women, and always feature one work by Elizabeth Gaskell. In 2019, we will explore the genre of the family saga and continue our investigation of how the British novel developed…
Find out more »November 2019
Victorian Book Group – Fathers and Sons
June's meeting is all about Ivan Turgenev's classic novel. Now in its 4th year, the Victorian book group continues its focus on reading (and rereading) classic works of fiction. Our scope spans the long nineteenth century and often includes neo-Victorian novels. We are especially interested in writings by and about women, and always feature one work by Elizabeth Gaskell. In 2019, we will explore the genre of the family saga and continue our investigation of how the British novel developed…
Find out more »