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 isn’t a summary of the book so much as a review of my thoughts on its purpose and ability to live up to that purpose. If you want to know the general story line, check out some other reviews first. I was introduced to Elizabeth Gaskell by seeing a film adaptation of “North and South.” Someone told me how much better the novel was, and somehow in looking for it I stumbled instead on a used copy of another of her works, “Wives and Daughters.” I was so impressed with the dry wit and beautiful story line! When I found this inexpensive copy of “Ruth” on Kindle, I started it with hopeful expectation it would be as good as that previous novel. It might be even better. What a beautiful story of a life marked by tragedy yet used for good. Ruth was young and ignorant and used, yet she never threw off responsibility of her own wrongdoing- she threw herself instead on God’s mercy and forgiveness and trusted Him to redeem her life according to His plan. Her character is so good and pure that it’s tempting to complain this novel is meant for moralizing, but I didn’t get that feeling. I loved the juxtaposition of real Christian faith that was portrayed by the Dissenting minister and his sister in their willingness to take on the cost (monetary and social) of caring for a “sinner” against the outward false morality of those in the establishment. That true faith, lived out quietly and steadfastly without regard for self was such an encouragement to read. I’ve felt for years that some of the best Christian ideals have been pressed upon me most persuasively by the best classics. The very end of the book was a surprise to me, and felt abrupt and disappointing, but not because I think it was the wrong ending. I will leave other reviewers to say what they think. As for Elizabeth Gaskell- in my opinion she deserves more respect and notice for her writing.

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.

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.

A memorable novel by Elizabeth Haskell, second only to "North and South", in my mind. Written in the 1850's it painfully conveys the Victorian society's attitude toward illegitimacy. Ruth, a young teenager who has been orphaned, has been placed in a seamstress's "sweat shop" in order to make a living. Rather improbably, her path crosses that of an aristocratic young man, who seduces her, and creates fear in her that leads her to go away with him.. He later abandons her, and she realizes society sees her as a "fallen woman", and will see her unborn child as deserving only of shame and scorn. She attempts suicide, and is rescued by a man who is the pastor of a small dissenters church. ( Not official Anglican Church). His household receives her with grace, and the rest of the story unfolds as she raises her son and is accepted in the community...until the true story of her background becomes known. Then, as in Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter", written about the same time, the most religious become the most condemning. They focus only on her sin, and not on demonstrating Christ's forgiveness. But the pastor and his household remain true to her and her son, and Ruth devotes her life to serving others. True, as critics have said, Ruth may be a little too perfect a character, but the reader cannot help but love her to the end.

I rarely have such strong emotional reactions to books but this one is an exception. To most modern readers, this story might seem like a torture, and in some ways, they would be right. Yet, I just could not put it down, whatever my objections to the behavior of its main characters. It’s difficult to understand or accept the Victorian mindset, given its rigid moral codes, so rigid that a person’s entire life could be defined and confined based on one mistake early in life. The story was not at all entertaining but due to its deeply psychological and spiritual explorations, it became absorbing, so much so that I became personally invested in the development of its plot and characters. There were some plot details that did not make sense to me. For example, why did Mr. Bellingham change his name? It seems incidental, but I wonder if this was common for its time. There is one brief line late in the novel that suggests he changed his name to acquire property, which makes no sense. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this novel and intend to read more of Mrs. Gaskell’s secondary novels.

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.

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

Amazing classic Victorian novel

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.