Our Chair, Dr Diane Duffy will be discussing Sylvia’s Lovers for the 2023-24 Knutsford season.

Gaskell’s only historical novel, Sylvia’s Lovers is set in the fictional coastal town of Monkshaven, against a backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.

Sylvia Robson lives a simple enough life on the farm, when she meets Charlie Kinraid, a dashing seaman. After their secret engagement, Kinraid vanishes and Sylvia is left broken-hearted and abandoned. Is her faithful cousin Philip telling the truth? Will his lie be found out before it’s too late?

Published in 1863, Sylvia’s Lovers is one of  Gaskell’s lesser-known novels, which she described as “the saddest story I ever wrote.”

In this, the second of six sessions, Diane will be covering Chapters 8-15 inclusive.

Read quotes from the chapters in question here

And download Diane’s Points to Ponder.

Our monthly ‘Knutsford’ meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month, between October and April (except December). £5 members, £6 non-members

This session takes place online over Zoom only. You’ll receive a link with your ticket.