Gaskell was intrigued by questions of gender & sexuality and explored these in her writing in surprising ways. This presentation focuses on Gaskell’s presentations of masculinity in her shorter fiction but also her subversive challenges to cultural expectations of femininity.

Carolyn Lambert is a visiting lecturer at the University of Brighton where she teaches nineteenth-century literature.  She is the author of The Meanings of Home in Elizabeth Gaskell’s Fiction (Brighton: Victorian Secrets, 2013) and co-editor with Marion Shaw of For Better, For Worse: Marriage in Victorian Novels by Women (London: Routledge, 2017).  She has a chapter entitled ‘Female Voices in Elizabeth Gaskell’s Mary Barton’ in British Women’s writing from Brontë to Bloomsbury, Volume 1 (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018), edited by Adrienne E Gavin and Carolyn W de la Oulton.  Her book on Frances Trollope is forthcoming from Edward Everett Root Publishers and her article ‘Performing Masculinity in Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford’ is appearing shortly in the Victorian Review.

‘The Hollands of Liverpool and Wirral: Merchants, Entrepreneurs and Adventurers’
by John Tiernan.

Samuel Holland of Knutsford (1768-1851) founded the Liverpool branch of the family when he set up business in the expanding seaport in the 1790s.  The family became involved in pottery, slate- mining, banking, railways and ship-owning and its members played important (if minor) key roles as part of one of the city’s many influential Unitarian families.  John will describe the establishment and growth of the family during the nineteenth century, as well as their links to Elizabeth Gaskell.

John Tiernan spent thirty five years working in Liverpool City Libraries, retiring as Assistant Director.  He continued his active professional involvement as Chair of the Liverpool Athenaeum Library Committee between 2004 and 2010.  He has an MA from Liverpool University and was Chair of the Liverpool History Society for twelve years: he has also been a Council member of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire since 1997.

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Doors open at 10.30am for coffee and our first talk will take place at 11am.

A buffet lunch will be served at around 12.30pm, and our afternoon talk will begin 2pm. The day will finish at 3.30pm

Charges: Members: £17.50 including lunch, or £11 for the talks only.
Non-members are very welcome to join us: £19.50 including lunch, £13 for the talks only.
Please book by 21st September 2019. Download the booking form