Vous voulez voir cette page en fran�ais ? Cliquez ici.

Get it for less! Order it used

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Search inside another edition of this book

Ruth (Hardcover)

by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (Author), Robert Lee Wolff (Author) "There is an assize-town in one of the eastern counties which was much distinguished by the Tudor sovereigns, and, in consequence of their favour and..." (more)

4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Currently unavailable.
We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Penguin Classics Wives And Daughters

by Pam Morris

4.7 out of 5 stars (15) CDN$ 13.51

Sylvia's Lovers

by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

CDN$ 16.10

The Moorland Cottage

by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

CDN$ 8.56

Mary Barton

by Elizabeth Gaskell

CDN$ 10.76

Red Classics Mary Barton

by Elizabeth Gaskell

3.8 out of 5 stars (6) CDN$ 9.89

› Explore similar items

Product Details

Hardcover: 311 pages
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (June 1975)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0824015819
ISBN-13: 978-0824015817
Product Dimensions: 25.4 x 20.3 x 5.1 cm
Shipping Weight: 454 g

Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

From AudioFile

Even though Mrs. Gaskell wrote 130 years ago, her message of gender and class inequality is familiar today. Ruth is a young woman who is orphaned at 15, apprenticed to a dressmaker, seduced and abandoned by a thoughtless lord of the manor. Ruth's troubles could be melodramatic in the hands of a writer less able than Gaskell and a reader less empathetic than Eve Matheson. But Matheson is an actress of great depth. Every character in this production is given a fully rounded persona. Her sensitive reading gives not just a memorable sound for each person, but also a sense of place at every scene change. She hits every high and low point, down to the catch in her own voice at a young woman's loss of her lover. It is those vocal dynamics that keep us glued to the story. J.P. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Book Description

One of the less familiar of Mrs. Gaskell's novels, Ruth was in its own time a cause celebre which not only contributed substantially to its author's growing reputation but also won the approval of a number of her distinguished contemporaries. The text used for this edition is based upon that of the first edition published in 1853.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.

First Sentence
There is an assize-town in one of the eastern counties which was much distinguished by the Tudor sovereigns, and, in consequence of their favour and protection, attained a degree of importance that surprises the modern traveller. Read the first page

Explore More
Concordance

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

What do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item?

	57% buy the item featured on this page: Ruth 4.2 out of 5 stars (6)
	14% buy Penguin Classics North And South 3.8 out of 5 stars (12) CDN$ 11.70
	11% buy Red Classics Mary Barton 3.8 out of 5 stars (6) CDN$ 9.89
	11% buy Cranford 3.8 out of 5 stars (5) CDN$ 3.25

Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

6 Reviews

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Least Favorite Gaskell Novel, May 13 2004

By	Eclectic Reader (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Penguin Classics Ruth (Paperback)

I was surprisingly unimpressed with this book. So far I have read three of Gaskell's other novels -- North and South, Wives and Daughters and Mary Barton. I loved them all. Gaskell's faith, the elegant strength of her heroines, and the attention that she pays to the details of daily life kept me interested and engaged. Gaskell is just such a passionate and compassionate writer.I have loved the way she combines social commentary with fine story telling. But while Ruth starts out just as strong as her other books, I was bored a third of the way through. Ruth's long suffering, her sobbing and sighing and crying through her desertion by Mr. Bellingham, her motherhood, and her stuggle to overcome her sin drove me to distraction. I found this character annoying and insipid. While her early innocence was refreshing I really didn't feel there was much character development after that point. In fact, Ruth seems less like a real person than any of the other characters in Gaskell's novels. If you have never read anything by this author I would not recommend this book as the place to start. Any of the others is a better choice

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than any modern novel!, Mar 9 2004

By	Jennifer B. Murphy (ID United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Penguin Classics Ruth (Paperback)

I picked up "Ruth" at a used book store looking for a good book to read on my vacation. Once I started, it was hard to put down! I finished the last chapters while waiting in a hot parked car for my husband - I was so engaged in the book, I didn't even notice I'd been there for a couple hours! By the time my hubby got back to the car, I was still drying my eyes from all the tears shed, and thinking that I want to name my first child Ruth!

I admire Gaskell for taking on the social and religious condemnation of single mothers - and for creating a character that so successfully redeemed herself of sin! I loved the theological questions raised by the characters regarding forgiveness and acceptance. And I loved Ruth's determination, the love and support she received from her adopted family, and the faith that she maintained despite pain and rejection from the community around her. If you like Austin, Dickens, Burney, etc. you will enjoy this book!

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5.0 out of 5 stars Quiet Brilliance, Jan 16 2003

By	Sir Jub-Jub (Sir Jub-Jub's Lair, Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Penguin Classics Ruth (Paperback)

Elizabeth Gaskell is often referred to as the forgotten classic author and "Ruth" is a prime introduction into this obviously complex and passionate woman. "Ruth" is a truly brilliant novel dealing with the issue of a fallen woman due to an illicit affair and subsequent birth of a bastard child. This, due to the societal assumptions of morality and righteousness, lead the main character into a series of deceptions and tribulations in an attempt at redemption. Gaskell's eloquent prose engrosses the reader into the lives of the multiple characters and as it is in three volumes, much time is spent developing each individual. This allows for a true feeling and understanding of the motives and meanings behind every action. The character of Ruth is obviously the most important and Gaskell allows her to develop into an almost Christ-like figure in her beliefs, faith and actions. "Ruth" is a novel that tackles incredibly sensitive and deep subject matter and reaffirms ones belief in a higher power. This is a novel that should be introduced back into the mainstream to achieve the stature that it deserves as a classic of literature.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 6 customer reviews...

Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Good example of period literature, little else
Ruth is much like many books of it's time. It often seems overwritten and contrived, and it is full of cliches and melodrama. It fails to question many sterotypes. Read more

Published on Jan 29 2002 by Nathaniel Watson

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read (if you can find it...)
I just finished reading Ruth last night. I could never seem to find it anywhere before, but I did and I'm glad, having now read all of Mrs Gaskells novels. Read more

Published on Jul 7 2000 by Miriam

4.0 out of 5 stars Or, Single Motherhood in the 19th Century
Elizabeth Gaskell's RUTH is a seemingly deceptive novel. Portraying a steadfastly single mother of an illegitimate child, the novel postures itself to be a sermon on the evils of... Read more

Published on Oct 22 1999