Locations in ‘The Sexton’s Hero’
10 March 2021
In January 2021, Dr Diane Duffy ran a discussion session on the short story, ‘The Sexton’s Hero’ about a daring rescue on Morecambe Bay. You can read her blog post
Gaskell Society News
"In short, I am ... open to any amount of literary gossip."
"In short, I am ... open to any amount of literary gossip."
– Letter (412) to George Smith, February 1859 –
Mental Illness and the Victorians – the Case of Alice Hadfield Petschler
8 March 2021
In March 2021, we were delighted to welcome the historian, biographer and retired teacher, Joanna Williams. Alice Hadfield Petschler (1830-1897) was the photographer, poet and “lunatic” whose case helped
Meet the Neighbours
3 March 2021
After moving into a new house, it is always useful to know your neighbours. I am sure Elizabeth would have already known many of her new neighbours in Plymouth Grove,
Building Plymouth Grove
10 February 2021
‘And We’ve Got a House. Yes! We really have.’ So writes Elizabeth in April 1850 about 42, Plymouth Grove, the house that was to become the Gaskells’ family home for
The Portico Sadie Massey Awards
5 February 2021
We’re thrilled to learn that Elizabeth Gaskell is inspiring a new generation of readers and writers! Now in their sixth year, the prestigious Portico Sadie Massey Awards, organised by The
Brontë’s Mistress – a talk by Finola Austin (video)
4 February 2021
https://vimeo.com/507999520 In February 2021, we enjoyed a real transatlantic treat! Historical novelist Finola Austin talked to us (from her home in New York) about Brontë’s Mistress. The novel tells the story
A Christmas Ramble (video)
2 December 2020
We had a very jolly, festive get-together on December 1st, as the Society’s Anthony Burton took us on a walk through Victorian Manchester. We recorded his talk and you can
Christmas with the Gaskells
29 November 2020
With Christmas only weeks away, Dr Diane Duffy looks at how Elizabeth Gaskell prepared for and celebrated Christmas through the years. Despite the fact that Unitarians did not recognise the
Elizabeth & Esther – a talk by Sherry Ashworth (video)
4 November 2020
That Elizabeth Gaskell knew her Bible hardly needs stating, but what use did she make of it in her fiction? In particular, what use did she make of The Book