Sylvia's Lovers [Paperback]

In this bleak novel Elizabeth Gaskell deftly weaves a dark thread of history into her narrative tapestry. While war hovers on the margins of the novel, no one is left unaffected by its horror. After a sometimes painfully slow setup of domestic life in the seaside town of Monkshaven in the first third of the book, the sense of doom grows increasingly palpable. Sylvia, the novel's heroine, is isolated by her supposedly protective domestic sphere, but Gaskell shatters the delicate domestic circle that surrounds her. While Sylvia is left to bear emotional scars, becoming an impassive, hardened woman, Charley Kinraid, her true love, returns from war a ghost, haunting the margins of Monkshaven to hide his terrible physical scars. The full realization of the blight on Sylvia's life comes when the novel spirals down to its inevitable conclusion, where even reconciliation and understanding brings a powerful sense of loss.

In spite of the racy title, this book has no sex in it whatsoever. It was written in a simpler time (the Victorian age), when Lovers meant people who loved someone and desired to court them in a purely innocent way. So, if you're looking for salacious writing, you've come to the wrong place.

I've recently developed a keen interest in Elizabeth Gaskell. I saw two mini-series based on her books "Wives and Daughters" and "Cranfield" (I immediately bought the DVDs). Since then I've read a few of her novels: Wives and Daughters, North and South, and now Sylvia's Lovers. I love the way this author looks into the hearts of her characters. There are no villains, just people who struggle to find happiness. Sometimes in the process, they might harm others, but it is rarely malicious. Some of her characters are truly saintly in their efforts to do the right thing. You go away feeling as if you know every character better than you know yourself. Elizabeth Gaskell has amazing human insight.

This story is not a romance. It is a redemption tale, beginning with establishing relationships and dynamics between characters, it progresses through tragedy and unexpected character development, to the end when moral courage triumphs over romance. This is not a story that could be told today, when romance always triumphs, but it is far wiser than any mere romance. It is a tale of moral courage.

Mrs. Elizabeth Cleghorn Stevenson Gaskell (1810-1865) is a fine Victorian author.
Among her many novels the best are: North and South; Cranford: Ruth; Wives and Daughters (left incomplete at her early death); Mary Barton and Sylvia's Lovers.
Sylvia's Lovers was published by Smith & Elder Company in 1863. It is a long novel consisting of 455 pages of small print in the Penguin Edition.
The story concerns the lives and loves of Sylvia Robson in the 1790s. Sylvia is an only child of Daniel and Belle Robson. They live on a farm where Sylvia is spoiled though she does do many farmland chores. She is besotted by a handsome seaman named Charlie Kinraid. They become engaged but he is impressed by the British Navy
in the life and death struggle with Napoleonic France. Sylvia weds her cousin Phillip Hepburn. Hepburn is a cloth merchant who is somewhat wimpy but loves Sylvia to distraction. The girl is illiterate. Phillip becomes her adoring tutor.
Sylvia's father is executed for leading a riot against an impressment party of soldiers. He is hanged in York. Phillip lies to her when he refuses to tell Sylvia that her lover Kinraid told he he loved her and would be true before being dragged away to foreign service by a press gang. Sylvia reluctanly weds Phillip giving birth the estranged couple's child Bella.
During the Siege of Acre sailor Kinraid is wounded but is rescued by his erstwhile enemy Phillip. Phillip had joined the marines after he parted in anger from Sylvia. Sylvia had learned that Phillip had lied to her about Kincaid's message of his continuing love for her. A few years later the badly wounded Hepburn returns home to Monkshaven in the north of England where Sylvia and Bella are residing. Sylvia has learned from a gossping friend that Phillip rescued Kinraid as in a hero. Phillip also rescues Bella who has fallen off a steep rock. Due to his efforts Phillip is mortally injured. Phillip and Sylvia are reconciled in a touching death scene. Sylvia never remarries and little Bella marries and moves to America. Charlie Kinraid weds a wealthy young woman.
Many readers will not like the north country dialect and the sentimental Victorian scenes of domestic life. Mrs. Gaskell said it was the saddest story she had ever spun for her readers. Mrs. Gaskell had the ability to draw well rounded and complicated characters. The book is reminiscent of other bucolic tragedies of the Victorian era such as Adam Bede by George Eliot and Tess of the D'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. Mrs. Gaskell's female characters are especially realistic.
Mrs. Gaskell the busy wife of a Unitarian minister in Manchester knew how to spend a fascinating story which will keep you hooked. Gaskell is neglected in many college level English Literature courses. She deserves to be more widely read! Perhaps the recent serialization of Cranford on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre will lead to a revival of interest on Mrs. Gaskell. If you love Victorian English fiction then this book will be a satisfying reading experience. Well recommended!

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