Ruth (Penguin Classics)

The first thing I should mention about this book is that it is the first time I have read an Elizabeth Gaskell novel, and it was so wonderful that I cannot wait to read another one! This book took my breath away! It was so beautifully written that I did not want to put it down. Elizabeth Gaskell has a way with words that evokes such strong emotions in the reader. Her words provide such imagery throughout the book that you can actually smell the fragrance in the air, and most importantly, to feel the emotions the characters are experiencing. The setting is the mid 1800's in England and Ruth Hilton is a twelve year old orphan that has been signed over by her guardian to woman that has a sewing business. The work conditions are deplorable and Ruth has no relatives or friends in the city. Ruth is extremely beautiful, however she does not believe that beauty has much value. Her beauty causes the other working girls to be jealous of her, therefore she is an outcast which makes her even more lonely. She misses her parents and longs for someone to care for her. One Sunday, after church she notices a boy playing near a stream. The boy falls in and is close to drowning. Ruth screams until a young man comes to help her with the child. The young man's name is Mr Bellingham and he is immediately enamored by her beauty. They begin to go on walks after church and become good friends. One day, Mr Bellingham talks Ruth into going for a long walk to the house where she was born, because she misses it very much. On the walk back, it begins to get dark and a coach approaches and in it is the woman she works for. The woman tellsRuth that she cannot have such loose girls working for her and that she is not to go back to work. Mr. Bellingham convinces Ruth to go traveling with him. And the rest is history! You will fall in love with Ruth. She is such a sweet, loving person that you just have to fall in love with her. She has an extremely difficult time making her way in the world. It is interesting to read about the differences between then and now, and to see just how the female has risen above such terrible ideas of how a woman is supposed to act and what is expected of her.

If you consider the time in which this story was written, then back up to the time of the authors influence,this was a cutting edge tale. The cultural milieu during her time was not much geared towards women, they were pretty much expected to keep house and raise children. Which she eloquently portrayed. Kudos to Mrs Gaskell.

When one thinks of Victorian sensation novels, one thinks of Wilkie Collins or Mary Elizabeth Braddon. The name Elizabeth Gaskell does not immediately come to mind. Elizabeth Gaskell was a contemporary and friend of Charles Dickens. Ruth, the author's second book, is not Gaskell's best known novel, but it is a forgotten gem that is worthy of much praise. Ruth is the story of a young and innocent orphan who falls into the hands of a vain aristocratic young man named Mr Bellingham. Ruth Hilton was apprenticed to a seamstress by her guardian, but she loses her job when Mrs Mason, her employer, finds Ruth alone with Bellingham. The sweet and innocent orphan finds herself without a roof over her head. The cunning Bellingham coaxes Ruth into accompanying him to London where he promises he will take care of her. Ruth agrees. The sixteen year old orphan cannot begin to comprehend the ramifications of her decision. Ruth and Bellingham spend time at an inn in Wales where there is much talk and gossip about the beautiful young lady who is accompanied by a man who is not her husband. Ruth, however, remains oblivious to the gossip behind her back. Her stay in Wales is simply the happiest time of her life, but that happiness is cut short. Bellingham becomes ill and is whisked away by his mother leaving Ruth alone and heartbroken. Soon after Bellingham's departure Ruth is taken in by generous clergyman, Mr Benson. Ruth discovers that she is pregnant, and Mr Benson and his sister, Faith, take Ruth home with them and attempt give her a new identity to avoid the stigma attached to an unmarried mother. Ruth takes up residence at the Benson's home under the name of the widow Denbigh. Ruth lives with the Benson's for many years, but secrets always have a way of coming out. This is a novel of sin and redemption. The subject matter may not seem controversial to modern readers, but the author was very apprehensive about how the novel would be received by nineteenth-century readers. The novel sparked all sorts of debate about redemption that may or may not interest readers today, but the novel is worth reading for its emotional intensity. Ruth has one of the most heartbreaking endings that I have ever read. Highly recommended!

This is one of the great classics of all time—a must-read. Well-developed characters and an intriguing plot make it hard to put down.

But I totally enjoyed the book and was sorely disappointed when it ended! I plan to read more of Elizabeth Gaskell.

Beautifully written but there's hardly a glimmer of hope or humor in the whole book. I trudged through it because I was genuinely interested in the characters but I didn't feel rewarded for my perseverence in the end. Still, the themes were thought provoking, and it was interesting to see how much moral codes have changed in just the relatively short number of years that have passed since Mrs. Gaskell penned this story.

Che dire di un libro come 'Ruth'? Sicuramente non è una lettura leggera ma è di una profondità indescrivibile. Amo Elizabeth Gaskell, il suo modo di analizzare i personaggi, la loro condizione... Per me, Ruth è un capolavoro assoluto. Edizione consigliata, con note esplicative.

This book had a very good insight into how inequality was against women. It also showed kindness and compassion. A lovely read

An insightful look at morality through different lenses, the importance of forgiveness and the toxicity of judgement

Escritora adelantada a su tiempo. Sus personajes son intensos y muy bien estructurados. Sobrecoge su capacidad descriptiva del entorno en el que se desarrollan sus historias, te transportan totalmente.

because I took a few ebooks on holiday recently and was staying at an hotel that didn't have good wifi connections, so unfortunately, I was unable to access any of my books on my iPad Kindle App, each time I tried, a box popped up stating that I could access my books without being on the internet!! WTF...NO MORE EBOOKS FOR ME FROM AMAZON . What a great disappointment for me with being on holiday, ready to relax, and nothing to read!!! I really can't rate this book as obviously was unable to read it, but once again, the sillyness of Amazon is making me rate it before they will allow this 'review' of their Kindle App for iPad to be seen. WARNING! I'll give it five - it's probably really good.