Audiobooks by Elizabeth Gaskell

Classic Love Stories: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: 12 Full-Cast Dramatisations

"Twelve dramatisations of the best love stories ever written, performed by star casts Treat yourself to this stunning collection of classic stories of love, loss, obstacles overcome and desperate attraction. This is a beautiful, moving and at times thrilling listen which takes you on a journey through the greatest tales of romance ever told. These unmissable, dramatised novels feature stellar performances from fantastic casts including Vanessa Kirby, Hiftu Quasem, Kate Philips, Rory Kinnear, Toby Jones, John Hurt and David Tennant. Anna Karenina is Leo Tolstoy's powerful drama of desire, transgression and heartache. Starring Kate Philips (Wolf Hall), Alfred Enoch (Harry Potter) and Rory Kinnear (James Bond films). Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is a fantastic mix of injustice, romance, passion and danger wrapped up in a glorious love story. Starring Amanda Hale (Catastrophe) and Tom Burke (Strike). Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary is a masterpiece of betrayal and wantonness - the first great novel of adultery. Starring Sarah Smart (Wallander), Jude Akuwudike (Gangs of London) and James D’Arcy (Broadchurch) with John Hurt (Harry Potter) as the Narrator. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. In a town full of hatred, where the streets ring with the Capulet-Montague feud and swords are too easily drawn, Romeo and Juliet find each other, fall in love, and never let go. Starring Trystan Gravelle (Mr Selfridge), Vanessa Kirby (Mission Impossible), David Tennant (Broadchurch) and Paul Ready (Motherland). Chéri by Colette is the story of a love affair between a courtesan and a man half her age, set in Paris before the First World War. Starring Frances Barber (Silk) and Joseph Millson (The Last Kingdom) with Lindsay Duncan (Birdman) as the Narrator. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen remains one of the world’s favourite novels, dealing with the timeless issues of love, social class and money with a witty, clever - though flawed - heroine at its heart. Starring Pippa Nixon (Unforgotten), Jamie Parker (The Crown) and Toby Jones (The Detectorists). The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni is an icon of Italian literature: the story of two lovers who want nothing more than to marry but are beset by the hazards of war, bread riots and the machinations of a nameless crime lord. Starring Hiftu Quasem (Killing Eve) and Ian Dunnett Jnr (Masters of the Air). The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall, written in 1928, is a pioneering novel about love and attraction between women. Starring Valerie Edmond as the enigmatic Stephen. Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's iconic love story. Heathcliff and Cathy's love is the beating heart of the story, set against the backdrop of the bleak Yorkshire moors. Starring Chloe Pirrie (Temple) and Ben Batt (Shameless). North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell explores social conscience, ideological difference and love in a mill town in the 1800s. Starring Emily Mortimer (The Pursuit of Love) and David Threlfall (Shameless). The Age of Innocence is Edith Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a passionate life-long love affair which breaks all the rules of the restrictive high society of 1870's New York. Starring Susan Lynch (Happy Valley) and Kellie Bright (Eastenders). Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy is a story of the belief in true romance and the power of money and love. Starring Alex Tregear (Silk: The Clerk’s Room), Toby Jones (The Detectorists) and Patrick Kennedy (Boardwalk Empire). This stunning collection is packed with the best romance stories written in the last 500 years – a fully dramatised, unmissable listen featuring some of the biggest names of stage and screen. ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alessandro Manzoni, Charlotte Brönte, Colette Avital, Edith Wharton, Elizabeth Gaskell, Emily Brönte, Gustave Flaubert, Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, Radclyffe Hall, Thomas Hardy, William Shakespeare (Author), David Tennant, Full Cast, John Hurt, Kate Philips, Rory Kinnear, Toby Jones, Tom Burke, Vanessa Kirby (Narrator)

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Cranford

"In Cranford, society belongs to the women. Amazons of middle age, high refinement and 'Elegant Economy'. From the Jenkyn's sisters Deborah and Matilda, to Miss Pole; irascible and incredulous. From honourable Mrs Jamieson to Mrs Fitz-Adams. Elizabeth Gaskell shows us the insights and workings of these spinsters across 16 episodic chapters, first published as a serial in Household World, and later being adapted into radio, plays and even a television series. Narrated by Michael Ward."

Elizabeth Gaskell (Author), Michael Ward (Narrator)

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Oh! The Weather Outside Is Frightful

"An audio anthology of Victorian ghost stories to chill you to the bone this holiday season. “What Was It?” by Fitz-James O’Brien“The Blue Room” by Lettice Galbraith“Smee” by A.M. Burrage“Old Nurse’s Story” by Elizabeth Gaskell“A Strange Christmas Game” by Charlotte Riddell“Twin-Identity” by Edith Stewart Drewry“The Portent of the Shadow” by Edith Nesbit“The Kit Bag” by Algernon Blackwood"

A.M. Burrage, Algernon Blackwood, Charlotte Riddell, Edith Nesbit, Edith Stewart Drewry, Elizabeth Gaskell, Fitz-James O'Brien, Lettice Galbraith (Author), Ann Sprinkle, Emily Pike Stewart, Hedy Parks, Jennifer Pickens, Jeremy Frazier, Stacy Carolan (Narrator)

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Ruth

"'Ruth' by Elizabeth Gaskell is a poignant novel exploring morality and societal judgment in 19th-century England. Ruth Hilton, an orphaned seamstress, is seduced and abandoned by wealthy Henry Bellingham. Shunned after giving birth out of wedlock, she finds kindness from Mr. and Mrs. Benson, who offer her refuge. As Ruth strives for redemption through hard work and compassion, her past haunts her, threatening her newfound life. Gaskell challenges Victorian hypocrisy, portraying Ruth as a sympathetic victim of circumstance rather than a sinner, while emphasizing the power of forgiveness and humanity."

Elizabeth Gaskell (Author), James Harrington (Narrator)

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The Grey Woman and Other Tales

"'The Grey Woman and Other Tales' by Elizabeth Gaskell is a collection of gripping short stories blending realism with gothic elements. In 'The Grey Woman,' a young bride discovers her husband’s dark secret tied to a mysterious, ghostly figure. Other tales explore themes of love, betrayal, class disparity, and supernatural intrigue, showcasing Gaskell’s mastery of character-driven narratives. Set against vivid backdrops of industrial England and rural landscapes, these stories delve into human nature, societal norms, and the unknown, leaving readers pondering questions of morality and fate. A must-read for fans of Victorian literature."

Elizabeth Gaskell (Author), James Harrington (Narrator)

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Sylvia’s Lovers

"Interconnecting the historical and the personal, the public and the private, this is a moving, absorbing story that probes the imbalance of human relationships, whether it be in the press gangs forcing young men to fight or the feelings of one individual for another. Life in an English seaside town in the 1790s is harsh, and ‘captious, capricious’ Sylvia has a dilemma when the dashing harpooner to whom she is secretly engaged disappears, and her dull cousin Philip (who has more information about his rival than he lets on) offers her love and security. Philip is not the only one afflicted with unrequited feelings, and as the ‘ceaseless waves’ lap against the shore we are drawn right into the heart of personal choices and their motivation. Alongside the accuracy of its historical backdrop, this is a character-driven novel, and Gaskell’s characters shine as brightly here as in North and South."

Elizabeth Gaskell (Author), Clare Wille (Narrator)

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Mary Barton, Volume 2

"In Elizabeth Gaskell's 'Mary Barton Volume 2,' the complex tapestry of working-class struggles in Victorian Manchester unfolds with greater intensity. Mary Barton, striving to clear her beloved Jem Wilson's name from false accusations, becomes entangled in a web of societal injustices. Amidst love and loss, Mary must navigate a world rife with economic disparity and moral challenges. Gaskell vividly portrays the indomitable human spirit, weaving a poignant narrative of redemption and hope."

Elizabeth Gaskell (Author), James Harrington (Narrator)

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Mary Barton, Volume 1

"Set in the industrial city of Manchester in the mid-19th century. The story follows the titular character, Mary Barton, a working-class girl who lives with her father, a factory worker, and her aunt in a small house in the city's impoverished area. Mary falls in love with Jem Wilson, a fellow factory worker who is also a trade union activist. However, when Mary's father becomes embroiled in a labor dispute, he accuses Jem of the murder of a local mill owner, leading to Jem's imprisonment and Mary's estrangement from him. 'Mary Barton' offers a poignant portrait of life in 19th century Manchester, highlighting the struggles of the working-class and the importance of empathy and compassion in navigating societal divides."

Elizabeth Gaskell (Author), James Harrington (Narrator)

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North and South

"'North and South' by Elizabeth Gaskell is a novel set in the mid-19th century, exploring the clash between the industrial North and the agricultural South of England. The story follows Margaret Hale, a young woman from the South who moves to the industrial town of Milton in the North with her family after her father resigns from his position as a parson due to a crisis of faith. The novel explores themes of social inequality, class conflict, and the changing landscape of 19th century England. Through Margaret and John's relationship, Gaskell portrays the need for understanding and compromise between opposing factions, and the potential for personal growth and transformation in the face of challenging circumstances."

Elizabeth Gaskell (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

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Wonder Of Women - Ghost Stories

"Let’s be clear. We are all equal under the law. However, even in these more modern times that is not an absolute and still remains a distant ambition for many. In the days when Britain ruled the waves and bestrode the world as its policeman and plunderer in chief it also subjugated half of its own people to second class status. Women were chattel and property. There were some exceptions based on wealth and birthright but for the overwhelming majority your lot was to fall in with the rules and do as you were told. Many did.But whilst male society sought to place obstacles in the path to equality, it could not deny their literary talents, which many times they circumvented by using male pseudonyms. However, the soaring sales of magazines and periodicals during the Victorian Age meant they had voracious appetites for literature, whatever the sex of its gender.Dozens of authors appeared to fill the need. Narratives had new ideas. Characters were emboldened by societal changes and the female voice taking responsibility.The women included here are talents that dazzle. Put them up against anyone and they rise to the top. Whether they remain with an avid readership today or faded to obscurity with the passing of the times their quality remains undimmed. 1 - Women of Wonder - Ghost Stories - An Introduction2 - Man Size In Marble by Edith Nesbit3 - The Eyes by Edith Wharton4 - The Story of Salome by Amelia Edwards5 - The Shadows on the Wall by Mary E Wilkins Freeman6 - A Spirit Elopement by Clotilde Graves7 - Since I Died by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps8 - Reality or Delusion by Mrs Ellen Wood9 - Was It An Illusion. A Parson's Story by Amelia Edwards10 - The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth by Rhoda Broughton11 - The Ghost at the Rath by Rosa Mulholland12 - Christmas Eve at a Cornish Manor House by Clara Venn13 - The Ghost by Catherine Wells14 - The Ghost in the Clock Room by Hesba Stretton15 - The Little Room by Madeline Yale Wynne16 - The Open Door - Part 1 by Margaret Oliphant17 - The Open Door - Part 2 by Margaret Oliphant18 - To Let by B M Croker19 - Let Loose by Mary Cholmondeley.wav20 - The Runaway by Marion Hepworth-Dixon21 - The Phantom Coach by Amelia Edwards22 - The 4 15 Express by Amelia Edwards23 - The Token by May Sinclair24 - The Striding Place by Gertrude Atherton25 - The Readjustment by Mary Austin26 - The Cold Embrace by Mary Elizabeth Braddon27 - The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell28 - Dionea - Part 1 by Vernon Lee29 - Dionea - Part 2 by Vernon Lee30 - John Charrington's Wedding by Edith Nesbit"

Amelia B. Edwards, B M Croker, Catherine Wells, Clara Venn, Clotilde Graves, Edith Nesbit, Edith Wharton, Elizabeth Gaskell, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Gertrude Atherton, Hesba Stretton, Madeline Yale Wynne, Margaret Oliphant, Marion Hepworth-Dixon, Mary Austin, Mary Cholmondeley, Mary E Wilkins Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, May Sinclair, Mrs Ellen Wood, Rhoda Broughton, Rosa Mulholland, Vernon Lee (Author), Elliot Fitzpatrick, Lisa Bowerman, Richard Mitchley (Narrator)

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Wonder Of Women - Victorian Ghost Stories

"Let’s be clear. We are all equal under the law. However, even in these more modern times that is not an absolute and still remains a distant ambition for many. In the days when Britain ruled the waves and bestrode the world as its policeman and plunderer in chief it also subjugated half of its own people to second class status. Women were chattel and property. There were some exceptions based on wealth and birthright but for the overwhelming majority your lot was to fall in with the rules and do as you were told. Many did.But whilst male society sought to place obstacles in the path to equality, it could not deny their literary talents, which many times they circumvented by using male pseudonyms. However, the soaring sales of magazines and periodicals during the Victorian Age meant they had voracious appetites for literature, whatever the sex of its gender.Dozens of authors appeared to fill the need. Narratives had new ideas. Characters were emboldened by societal changes and the female voice taking responsibility.The women included here are talents that dazzle. Put them up against anyone and they rise to the top. Whether they remain with an avid readership today or faded to obscurity with the passing of the times their quality remains undimmed. 1 - Women of Wonder - Victorian Ghost Stories - An Introduction2 - John Charrington's Wedding by Edith Nesbit3 - The Cold Embrace by Mary Elizabeth Braddon4 - Was It An Illusion. A Parson's Story by Amelia Edwards5 - The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell6 - The Runaway by Marion Hepworth-Dixon7 - The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth by Rhoda Broughton8 - The Little Room by Madeline Yale Wynne9 - To Let by B M Croker10 - The Open Door - Part 1 by Margaret Oliphant11 - The Open Door - Part 2 by Margaret Oliphant"

Amelia B. Edwards, B M Croker, Edith Nesbit, Elizabeth Gaskell, Madeline Yale Wynne, Margaret Oliphant, Marion Hepworth-Dixon, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Rhoda Broughton (Author), Ghizela Rowe, Janet Fullerlove, Kelly Burke (Narrator)

Audiobook

Wonder Of Women - Love Stories

"Let’s be clear. We are all equal under the law. However, even in these more modern times that is not an absolute and still remains a distant ambition for many. In the days when Britain ruled the waves and bestrode the world as its policeman and plunderer in chief it also subjugated half of its own people to second class status. Women were chattel and property. There were some exceptions based on wealth and birthright but for the overwhelming majority your lot was to fall in with the rules and do as you were told. Many did.But whilst male society sought to place obstacles in the path to equality, it could not deny their literary talents, which many times they circumvented by using male pseudonyms. However, the soaring sales of magazines and periodicals during the Victorian Age meant they had voracious appetites for literature, whatever the sex of its gender.Dozens of authors appeared to fill the need. Narratives had new ideas. Characters were emboldened by societal changes and the female voice taking responsibility.The women included here are talents that dazzle. Put them up against anyone and they rise to the top. Whether they remain with an avid readership today or faded to obscurity with the passing of the times their quality remains undimmed. 1 - Women of Wonder - Love - An Introduction2 - Life of Ma Parker by Katherine Mansfield3 - Uncle Abraham's Romance by Edith Nesbit4 - Here We Are by Dorothy Parker5 - Some Ways of Love by Charlotte Mew6 - The Muse's Tragedy by Edith Wharton7 - The Sexton's Hero by Elizabeth Gaskell8 - A Middle Sized Artist by Charlotte Perkins Gilman9 - The Mortal Immortal by Mary Shelley10 - A Spirit Elopement by Clotilde Graves11 - A Story of a Wedding Tour by Margaret Oliphant12 - The Locket by Kate Chopin13 - On the Gull's Road by Willa Cather14 - The Canary by Katherine Mansfield15 - May Afternoon by Catherine Wells16 - The Night Before Thanksgiving by Sarah Orne Jewett17 - The Oculist by Catherine Wells18 - The Dream by Mary Shelley19 - The Dance by Zona Gale20 - The Dark Cottage by Mary Cholmondeley21 - The Way the World Is by Zona Gale22 - Psychology by Katherine Mansfield23 - The Shape of Fear by Elia W Peattie24 - Those Who Wait by Ethel Dell25 - An Unexpected Fare by Mary Tuttiett writing as Maxwell Gray26 - A New England Nun by Mary E Wilkins Freeman27 - White Magic by Ella D'Arcy28 - A Symphony in Lavender by Mary Wilkins E Freeman29 - The Mass for the Dead by Edith Nesbit30 - Fantomina or, Love in a Maze - Part 1 by Eliza Haywood31 - Fantomina or, Love in a Maze - Part 2 by Eliza Haywood"

Catherine Wells, Charlotte Mew, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Clotilde Graves, Dorothy Parker, Edith Nesbit, Edith Wharton, Elia W Peattie, Eliza Haywood, Elizabeth Gaskell, Ella D'Arcy, Ethel Dell, Kate Chopin, Katherine Mansfield, Margaret Oliphant, Mary Cholmondeley, Mary E Wilkins Freeman, Mary Tuttiett writing as Maxwell Gray, Mary Wilkins E Freeman, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Sarah Orne Jewett, Willa Cather, Zona Gale (Author), Eve Karpf, Laurel Lefkow, Lisa Bowerman (Narrator)

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