Celebrating the life and work of Elizabeth Gaskell
We host a year-round programme of meetings and events – many of which are open to everyone.
Upcoming Events
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Gaskell Memorial Service at Brook Street Chapel
The Annual Gaskell Service is on Sunday 24th September at 11am Please note that this year the service is not the day after the Gaskell Society Autumn Meeting, as traditionally it is, but on the Sunday before the Autumn Meeting, which is on Saturday 30th September The theme of the service is "Elizabeth Gaskell and Motherhood". Prior to the service, at 10.45 am we have the laying of flowers on the Gaskell grave and on Joan Leach's grave. Afterwards there is…
Find out more »Autumn Meeting
Autumn Meeting Booking Form 10.30 am Coffee 11.00 am The Joan Leach Memorial Lecture will be given by Dr. Ingrid Hanson, taking as her title: “ God shall wipe away all the tears from their eyes”: Elizabeth Gaskell, the body and the idea of peace. Ingrid Hanson is a lecturer in English and American Studies and Creative Writing at The University of Manchester .Using extracts from Gaskell’s North and South and Ruth, where reference is made to the eyes of…
Find out more »Manchester Meeting at Cross Street Chapel
The Gaskell Society is pleased to announce the first talk in the Autumn/Winter series of Lunchtime Talks at Cross Street Chapel. “Great Pan is Dead” On the life and death of Branwell Brontë. Gaskell might have been ironic in casting Branwell as Pan and his sisters as the Furies, but there is something genuinely tragic, if not heroic, about Branwell’s particular journey. In this talk, Sue Newby, Learning Officer at the Brontë Parsonage Museum, explores the place of Branwell Brontë,…
Find out more »A Friends of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House Event
A "Conversation" between Professor Michael Slater and Anthony Burton on "A Literary Society and its Museum" The Dickens Fellowship is 115 years old and the Charles Dickens Museum is 92 years old. Professor Michael Slater has been involved in both since 1967, having served as President of the Fellowship and Chairman of the Museum's Trustees .Anthony has persuaded Michael to make the journey north to come to Elizabeth Gaskell's House, as did Dickens himself,so many years ago!. There Michael will…
Find out more »Knutsford Meeting
The Gaskell Society is delighted to welcome the return Dr Diane Duffy, who, in the last session, led the discussions such interesting and informative way. In this session we will be studying North and South and Diane will explore the two main thematic/generic strands of the novel: industrial relatons and romance. She writes: I will begin with the romance genre which traditionally is part of the acculturation process-making men and women fit into the desired/expected social role models.Many women writers subvert this…
Find out more »Manchester Meeting at Cross Street Chapel
Margo Singer. The Paisley Shawl – Keeping Warm in the Nineteenth Century. Details to follow Doors open at 12.15 pm. so that anyone who wishes can bring a packed lunch or purchase it at one of the nearby sandwich shops. The chapel provides tea and coffee for a small donation All our welcome. Fee: £3 members, £4 non-members
Find out more »London and S.E. Gaskell Society Meeting
Elizabeth Gaskell Illustrated’ Emma Marigliano Emma Marigliano is the Chief Librarian at the Portico Library in Manchester, a place frequented by both William who was president for many years and Elizabeth although her access was rather confined to the reading of current periodicals. Emma will speak about the ways in which Gaskell’s novels have been illustrated over the years. You may remember that we had a speaker about this topic over 10 years ago so it seems timely to renew…
Find out more »Knutsford Meeting
Dr Diane Duffy will continues to explore the theme of romance in North and South Diane writes: In the second session I want us to explore the available social roles for men-father, son, husband and brother. In the second part of this session, I want us to consider how Gaskell manages to make links between the romance genre and the industrial/ social novel. Prior to the discussion there will be the usual delicious buffet lunch served at 12.30 pm. The…
Find out more »Christmas Celebration Meeting at the Portico Library
Our special Christmas Meeting will once again take place at the beautiful Portico Library. After last year's successful Christmas celebration we are returning for seasonal refreshments followed by a talk by Jean Briggs. Jean will give an entertaining & informative talk on the Jewsbury sisters, Geraldine and Maria-Jane, who lived in Manchester at the same time as the Gaskells and moved in the same circles. Geraldine Jewsbury wrote novels herself and was a prolific reviewer, acquainted with the leading Victorian…
Find out more »New Year Meal
For our traditional New Year Meal we are returning once more to the Cottons Hotel, Knutsford Details of the meal, entertainment and costs will follow shortly. Watch this space
Find out more »Knutsford Meeting
At this meeting Dr Diane Duffy wants us to examine Gaskell’s presentation of the industrial relations in North and South Prior to the discussion there will be the usual delicious buffet lunch served at 12.30 pm. The discussion will begin at 2pm. and finish at 3pm. Doors open at 12.00 pm.. Charges: Members: £9 incl lunch Discussion only: £3 Non-members: £10 incl lunch. Discussion only: £4 All are welcome There will also be a chance to visit the Gaskell Exhibition…
Find out more »Manchester Meeting at Cross Street Chapel
Following our successful Discussion Meeting last year we have decided to repeat it this year.. Details of what we will discuss will follow Doors open at 12.15,pm. so that anyone who wishes may bring a packed lunch or purchase it at one of the nearby sandwich shops. The chapel provides tea and coffee for a small donation. Entrance Fee: Members £3 Non-members £4 All are welcome
Find out more »London and S.E. Gaskell Society Meeting
Emily Midorikawa & Emma Claire Sweeney on Literary Friendships Emily and Emma have recently published a lovely book about female literary friendships. Although in their Bronte chapter they focused on Charlotte Bronte’s friendship with Mary Taylor they were sorely tempted to write about the Gaskell Bronte friendship. In a Q & A session (chaired by me!) they will reveal their collaboration, their writing process and answer questions about the close friendship between Elizabeth Gaskell and Charlotte Bronte. Their book, which…
Find out more »Knutsford Meeting
A change,this month: we leave the printed copy of novel behind and look at the BBC adaptation of North and South . Libby Tempest will lead a discussion on what we think of the adaptation, how it came to be made, issues that arose, and how close to the novel it is. We look at the various changes that were made, and what we think of the main characters and actors. We may have a look at some excerpts from the…
Find out more »Manchester Meeting at Cross Street Chapel
– Rebecca Milner who is the Fine Arts Curator at the Manchester City Art Gallery will talk about Annie Swynnerton with a view to organising a trip to the exhibition of her work later in the year.
Find out more »Knutsford Meeting
Dr Diane Duffy will continue with the discussion of North and South More details to follow Prior to the discussion there will be the usual delicious buffet lunch served at 12.30 pm. The discussion will begin at 2pm. and finish at 3pm. Doors open at 12pm.. Charges: Members: £9 incl lunch Discussion only: £3 Non-members: £10 incl lunch. Discussion only: £4 All are welcome There will also be a chance to visit the Gaskell Exhibition Room on the first…
Find out more »The Gaskell Society Annual General Meeting
Details to follow
Find out more »London and S.E. Gaskell Society Meeting
‘Elizabeth Gaskell: The Biographer as Biographee’ Dr Anna Koustinoudi, University of Thessolinki English Department, with a BA, MA and Ph.D from Aristotle University, Greece. She publishes widely, numerous academic articles in books and periodicals. Her book The Split Subject of Narration in Gaskell’s First Person Fiction was published in 2012. Anna thinks she can conflate both a talk on Elizabeth Gaskell the biographer with her (Gaskell’s) writings on 19c Greek customs and traditions, which form the subject of an essay…
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