New Year, New Fallen Woman: Elizabeth Gaskell's Ruth Readalong

[BishyBarnyBee]

Following the very successful Madame Bovary readalong, we have decided to explore another woman who refused to be bound by contemporary mores.
So shocking at the time, two of Gaskell's friends burnt their copies.

"Elizabeth Gaskell's Ruth (1853) was the first mainstream novel to make a fallen woman its eponymous heroine. It is a remarkable story of love, of the sanctuary and tyranny of the family, and of the consequences of lies and deception, one that lays bare Victorian hypocrisy and sexual double-standards. Shocking to contemporary readers, its radical utopian vision of a pure woman faithfully presented predates Hardy's Tess by nearly forty years."

We will aim for two chapters a week - a weekend chapter and a mid week chapter. If I have time, I'll try and do a ChatGPT chapter summary, but anyone else is welcome to jump in if I haven't got there first.

We start 1st Jan, so if you are up for a bit of Victorian passion, guilt, regret and redemption, sign up here!

One of my favourite books! I need to try and get myself organised for this. Thanks!

I’m in. I read North and South years ago and loved it but haven’t read anything else by her. Two chapters a week is more manageable than one a day too. I always get behind and give up on those but this I can do.
Just ordered my copy.

I'll give it a go. I've only just recently Gaskelled so may need to work up to more! I need to juggle ordinary book, Nickleby and this : oh , and the small issue of work....

Great! I always get behind and find it hard to catch up too, but I'm hoping the responsibility of leading the thread will work for me. If I manage to do the ChatGPT chapter summaries, you'll be able to get the gist even if you're not quite keeping up.

@Piggywaspushed @nettie434 Fab - it's fine to give it a go and see how you get on, great to have you on board.

I would love to join in with this, I have read and enjoyed both North and South and Cranford though many years ago. I am glad I have discovered this corner of MN.

Excellent, thank you @BishyBarnyBee I've got my copy and had a sneaky read of the first few chapters when we discussed it before. (I have read it before, but so many years ago I don't remember very much.)
Definitely agree that 2 chapters a week is more achievable!

Thanks for the tag on the other thread Bishy. I love North and South, so up for this. Off to download a copy.

I'm up for this and just downloaded the free kindle version. I've been meaning to read Gaskell since I read and enjoyed Mrs Gaskell and me by Nell Stevens.

Excellent.
I read North and South about 30 years ago!
I have a copy of Ruth with sticky back plastic to protect it. If only I had the time to look after paperbacks like I did as a teenager.
Looking forward to joining everyone

Thanks so much @BishyBarnyBee. I didn’t love North and South when I read it, but these slower paced readalongs have really helped to digest and enjoy some of the classics I’ve previously been intimidated by.

Love the title.

As ever, would love to see the covers of anyone who has the non generic kindle free cover (like me).

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Thank you! I have a library copy - will post a photo when I get home.

Thank you Bishy for setting this up and for the wonderful introduction. I'm looking forward to reading this very much.

Me too! Just ordered the Oxford edition as they're my favourite publishers for classics.

I fell off the thread for War and Peace and Our Mutual Friend although I did finish both novels. Will have another go this year though.

Having enjoyed North and South and Mary Barton I'm looking forward to Ruth. Thanks for starting us off @BishyBarnyBee

I love this idea and am off to seek out a copy ASAP

Ohh, thank you for arranging this. I'm a big Gaskell fan, thank you too for introducing me to one I have not already read.

So good to have something to look forward too at this time of year xx

Thank you BushyBarneyBee I’m looking forward to this. I have a library copy at the ready.

Count me in - I’m not familiar with Ruth but it sounds good!

I’m not going to read along, as Ruth has always annoyed me (though I like lots of other Gaskells), but I just wanted to admire your thread title.

Maybe I have never forgiven Mrs Gaskell for falling out of touch with Charlotte Bronte after her marriage — she says in a letter to her daughter that had she known CB was dying in pregnancy (probably of what we would now recognise as hyperemesis gravidarium) she could have induced a miscarriage to save her life. And yes, I do get that this was not Mrs Gaskell’s fault in any way.

I agree, it's a great thread title!

I'm in! Thanks @BishyBarnyBee

Signing in , hope to keep up

Yes please. Love Elizabeth Gaskell.
Will buy a copy tomorrow.
Oooooh, this is the most excitement I've had in a long time...🤓and I'm not joking!

Ordered a copy and I'll give it a go!!

Count me in. I will have a go.