Elizabeth Gaskell

An engaging storyteller who explored village life, industrial problems, travel experiences, gothic aspects, biography, historical fiction, and domestic scenarios, Elizabeth Gaskell has steadily gained canonical status, as her novels are regularly taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and interest continues to grow in her relationship to the Bronte family. Scholarship on Gaskell discusses topics ranging from gender, marriage, and parenting to trauma, class, privilege, and more. Her robust internet presence is manifest, as fans share their responses to Gaskell's works, and enthusiasts find Gaskell-themed products. Cinematic treatments of Gaskell's works, available through streaming services, introduce Gaskell to new generations of readers. This companion includes a brief biography; a timeline; and an alphabetical list of entries on works, concepts, places, events, and people who were important in the period and who had some connection to Gaskell. Each entry provides an overview of the topic and includes furtherreading suggestions for those seeking further details.