Wives and Daughters
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Wives and Daughters
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Narrated by:
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Prunella Scales
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Written by:
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Elizabeth Gaskell
About this listen
Exclusively from Audible
Molly Gibson, the only daughter of a widowed doctor in the small provincial town of Hollingford, lost her mother when she was a child. Her father remarries wanting to give Molly the woman's presence he feels she lacks. To Molly, any stepmother would have been a shock, but the new Mrs. Gibson is a self-absorbed, petty widow, and Molly's unhappiness is compounded by the realisation that her father has come to regret his second marriage.
Although Molly resents her stepmother, she befriends her new step-sister, Cynthia, who is loveable, but worldly and troubling. The audiobook chronicles their maturation into womanhood within the confines of the gossiping and watchful society of Hollingford.
As Molly matures and falls in love she learns to judge people for what they are, not what they seem. Through Molly, the social values and changes of early 19th-century England are brought to life in this timeless representation of human relationships. The audiobook is more than just a nostalgic story of village life, it offers an ironic critique of mid-Victorian society.
Known as her last, longest, and perhaps finest work, it was not quite complete when Gaskell died suddenly in 1865. The last section was written by Frederick Greenwood.
Narrator Biography
Prunella Scales is a classically trained stage actress but is best known for her role as Sybil Fawlty in the BBC comedy Fawlty Towers (1975-1979) and for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in A Question of Attribution (1991) for which she was nominated a BAFTA. Her film appearances have included Stiff Upper Lips (1997), Howard's End (1992), and Wolf (1994). She was awarded the CBE for her services to drama in 1992 and the Patricia Rothermere Award for her contributions to British Theatre in 2001. More recent appearances have included the mini-series The Shell Seekers (2006), a production of Carrie's War at the Apollo Theatre (2009), Horrid Henry: The Movie (2013) and a guest appearance in the popular BBC radio comedy Cabin Pressure (2013). Julian Barnes' The Lemon Table and Anne Fine's Charm School are among the many audiobooks Prunella Scales has narrated.
Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.What listeners say about Wives and Daughters
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2020-06-19
A magical combination
Prunella Scales reading Mrs Gaskell is a magical combination. The author’s wit, warmth and depth of perception and the reader’s masterful dramatization made this my favourite Audible listen to date.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gillian
- 2023-09-21
Masterful storytelling
A lot beautifully drawn picture of society of all classes in a small English country town. The characters are so exquisitely drawn that they take on a realism beyond the page. The narrator does a superb job of bringing them fully to life. This is a book I look forward to listening to again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- gentlereader
- 2021-10-07
Tales of a Victorian blended family
A charming and thoughtful story of the antics of Dr Gibson's new wife and step daughter and how his own daughter, Molly, must adjust. Just as relevant and entertaining today as when first published, this book is funny and sad and interesting - and Mrs Gaskell illustrates many important ideas along the way. Be sure to enjoy the gorgeous BBC mini series after you finish the book. Enjoy!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2022-04-25
Such a lovely experience!
The story starts up slow, but then it is quite captivating. There's a lot of characters introduced in the beginning which is a bit confusing, but then it settles down and becomes a lot easier to follow.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- polka7532
- 2022-04-12
Wonderful narration
One of the best Victorian writers, Elizabeth Gaskell never disappoints. But what was a big surprise was the fantastic narration by Prunella Scales. I have listened to many audiobooks but the narration of Wives and Daughters was the best I have ever heard. Somehow Prunella Scales managed to find just the right balance between a performance and a narration. I was really in awe for the entire book 25+ hours.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SusanQQ
- 2021-05-12
Beautiful writing
This is my second Elizabeth Gaskell read. The writing is smart and beautiful. If you are wanting action and intrigue this book will not be for you. It is about life and people. The characters, their feelings and situations are relevant today. I am finding reading Ms. Gaskell's books somewhat soothing during today's turmoil, when people acted towards each other with more kindness and civility. There was more connection amongst people sans electronics. I enjoyed stepping back in time and discovering that the hopes and dreams of people then are similar to now. The narration was so well done. Bravo.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Leah Blain
- 2020-10-21
Wonderful!
I have listened to many audio books and Prunella Scales is one of the best I have ever heard. The story is wonderful and she certainly captured the many characters in a masterful way.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- DM
- 2021-08-01
Brilliant Story and Performance
Mrs. Gaskell was such a talented author. I return to her works very often and recommend her stories to all!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Marilee
- 2018-09-13
Happily recommended
This title was enjoyable to listen to and kept my imagination engaged throughout - the characters became people I wanted to meet. Wives and Daughters is a narrative I will return to reread again! #Audible1
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Christine Surina
- 2021-11-10
The Feel of Jane Austen !!
Very much enjoyed the book with its JaneAusten feel about it… performance was outstanding. Story line excellent .. So as to not ruin it, the ending was unexpected/ disappointing but well worth the read … great book
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