Autumn Meeting 2026 – Elizabeth Gaskell: asserting copyright and legal liaisons

This year’s Joan Leach Memorial Lecture is given by the writer and Intellectual Property expert Helen Shay.

Writers and publishers often had fraught relationships, particularly women writers. This talk looks at how Gaskell’s relationship with her publishers and editors, in particular Charles Dickens, impacted on her writing, moulding her increasing confidence in asserting her views and rights, attitudes which influenced later women writers and indirectly contributed to the much stronger place in which they find themselves today.

Finally, this talk explores Gaskell’s semi-fascination with the law. She trusted the lawyers she knew, particularly her son-in-law Thurstan Holland, and learned much from them that informed her writing, such as the often-overlooked accuracy and depth of character developed in Henry Lennox in North and South, touching on issues which have not been fully explored before.

Helen Shay has a BA from the University of Manchester, where she was tutored by the eminent Gaskell scholar, Alan Shelston. She also has a degree in Creative Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University. Helen has taught at various places, including creative writing/literary courses at York University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning.  She has also followed a legal career as a solicitor, after taking qualifying studies at the University of Law. This has included advising on Intellectual Property and working as In-house Counsel at York University.

Alongside her legal career, Helen has always written general fiction and non-fiction, including publication of a book on copyright, several legal articles, poetry and short stories (some award-winning), together with dramas staged at Edinburgh Fringe and elsewhere. She is a Member of the Society of Authors and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists.

This talk takes place online only: live over Zoom with a recording available for a limited time after the event. Your ticket will give access to both (we will send the recording link after the event).