Blogs & News

: Online Talk: ‘A Grand Quarrel’ Between Elizabeth Gaskell and Florence Nightingale

What was the 'grand quarrel' between Elizabeth Gaskell and Florence Nightingale? Join us online to find out why these two eminent Victorian women disagreed over the role of mothers, and how each represented a different kind of feminism - long before feminism became a recognised movement. Author and psychotherapist Naomi Stadlen will explore the arguments that these two brilliant and original women put forth, and question whether we need to vote for one of them - or do

: Online Talk: Halloween – Elizabeth Gaskell’s Gothic Tales

*This event is now sold out*   Join us online for a spine-tingling talk, just in time for Halloween! Elizabeth Gaskell delighted in writing gothic tales and ghost stories. Explore these terrifying tales in our spellbinding Halloween talk by Dr Diane Duffy. Tickets are £3.     ** Ticket sales will cease one day before the event starts, in order to give us time to send out joining instructions** **Joining instructions will be sent via email on the

: Sylvia’s Lovers on Radio 4 Extra

Two part adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel Sylvia's Lovers - available for 30 Days. Each episode is 1 hour. Click on the link below. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b073mh6k    

: Tales of Mystery & the Macabre social media read along

Emboldened by the enthusiasm of our followers and supporters we are now moving on to something a little different from Elizabeth Gaskell’s back catalogue, Tales of Mystery & the Macabre. This is a collection of short stories and we plan to discuss three stories specifically and then have a general discussion about the others in the final week. We hope that those who asked for Wives and Daughters or Cranford won’t be too disappointed – their time will come!

: Online Talk: Chocolate-box Cranford: An Idyll?

Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford is famed for its portrayal of picture-perfect English village life, and its well-loved illustrations by Hugh Thomson help to paint this chocolate-box picture. But is there more to Cranford than the idyllic image suggests? Find out in this online winter's evening talk by Anthony Burton, which accompanies our exciting new Cranford exhibition in 2021. Tickets £4     ** Ticket sales will cease one hour before the event starts** Refer to your e-ticket for joining