Hi Kate, so timely that I just discovered your channel as I have just started reading Gaskell and Eliot. I finished North and South a couple of weeks ago. After a slow warming (probably because it was my first time reading Gaskell), I soon felt drawn in to the story and the characters and loved it. I’m now half-way through Middlemarch, my first book by Eliot. Again, a period of adjustment to a new author, then drawn in by Eliot’s impressive knowledge of literature, science, politics and society. Half-way through, I am feeling more and more drawn in to the depth and richness of the characters and their relationships. I’m looking forward to reading more of each author and appreciate your reviews and passions for these authors that I’ve just fallen in love with. Thank you. Theresa (in Australia, but originally from Yorkshire, England from a family of mill workers)
Im just finishing mill on the floss and I am sad to finish it. I have LOVED it. And I adore George Eliot. Thanks for this video. Excellent coverage of two wonderful authors.
I was so curious about your rankings as I love both authors too. Your little summary of each book was superb and the way you explain how some of these books grow in your mind over time or when you reread them. I really found that with Romola. I must read Sylvia's Lovers and get back to Wives and Daughters that I last read in my teens.
Thanks for your information and enthusiasm. I've yet to read "Ruth" and "Romala." I agree with you about "The Mill on the Floss"; one of her weakest works. As for "Middlemarch", I have read it twice and find it utterly awesome. And Gaskell, having faith, is more balanced and uplifting than Hardy 😊.
Thank Goodness our American cousins keep the literary flame of Victorian Britain ( the female side ! ) burning brightly. .Thank you Kate! It's good to know that people like you are out there ! !
Yes he did! I watched him first in Daniel Seconds as Haleigh Grandcoutt before seeing him in Downton Abbey . It took me a little while to warm to his character in Downton Abby for that reason.
Kate! I’m just going through some of your older videos, and while watching this one thought maybe you want to buddy read “The Lifted Veil” and “Brother Jacob” with our little GE buddy reading group this Victober! It’s going to be my very last GE fiction, and then I will be a completionist!
I almost thought you were going to say 'Middlemarch' is your number 1 pick, and I would have been astonished! LOL I think this is a great idea for a video. Love it! I've got a lot of Eliot reading to do now, so I can do my own ranking. I haven't read Middlemarch in five years and that was when I was first dipping my toes into Vic Lit. I definitely want to re-read.
I saw the Middlemarch miniseries and I read and watched Wives and Daughters. I remember how the female main character really loved her husband and wanted to really help him. She loved his ideas and she was so sweet to an unlovable man. But he turned on her because he was jealous of his cousin. He really drove things out of proportion and sort of made them be drawn together. He was just a miserable man. Wives and Daughters was more Austenesque. I loved those characters. I read Sylvias Lovers but I don't remember one thing about it.
I love Gaskell, but I've only read Silas Marner by Eliot. I want to read more by both authors. I haven't been able to participate in Victober this year. I'm still working out how to find time to read with a new baby.
Thank you for that! Very informative. I am currently reading North and South. I am a slow reader and these clunkers are intimidating. I want to get faster but it’s sacrificing good lines I would normally mull over and pressing on through lines I didn’t understand. I read Silas Marner in juco and did a book report on it in literature class. I remember loving it. I want to try a lot of the ones you reviewed. Great video!
I didn't know that little snippet about Dickens and Elliot, now I want to challenge myself and read some books without knowing the gender of the author and see if I can guess... I think Eliot would be guessable, also the Brontes, but I'm saying that from a position of knowledge.
North and South is the only novel I've read by Elizabeth Gaskell. I didn't enjoy it because I felt that Margaret was a Mary Sue type character. She was always praised by the author, but I didn't feel like what we were shown justified the praise. Are Gaskell's protagonists all written like Margaret?
I’ve still got three Eliot to read and even though I’ve read all of Gaskell once I think rereads would be necessary to do my own ranking. Sylvia’s Lovers I struggled with because it’s so sad and although I loved Middlemarch first go, When I read Daniel Deronda I just wanted more Gwendolyn- less Daniel 😉
I can not separate the two from each other love you and your amazing channel prayers and thoughts for you and your family love your family friend John ❤❤❤
For me, George Eliot's work feels like encountering a power and mind for the ages, while Gaskell feels like reading a good Victorian novelist. I enjoy Gaskell but her work just seems like a tier below Eliot's consistently.
Both of these novelists are major writers, and owing to the significance, diversity, and maturity of their productions, are far more important than Jane Austen who, a decent stylist, was a sexless adolescent and escapist.
Hi Kate, so timely that I just discovered your channel as I have just started reading Gaskell and Eliot. I finished North and South a couple of weeks ago. After a slow warming (probably because it was my first time reading Gaskell), I soon felt drawn in to the story and the characters and loved it. I’m now half-way through Middlemarch, my first book by Eliot. Again, a period of adjustment to a new author, then drawn in by Eliot’s impressive knowledge of literature, science, politics and society. Half-way through, I am feeling more and more drawn in to the depth and richness of the characters and their relationships. I’m looking forward to reading more of each author and appreciate your reviews and passions for these authors that I’ve just fallen in love with. Thank you. Theresa (in Australia, but originally from Yorkshire, England from a family of mill workers)
🙏
Every time you talk about George Eliot I feel like I ought to like her 😂 Wonderful video, Kate!
Im just finishing mill on the floss and I am sad to finish it. I have LOVED it. And I adore George Eliot. Thanks for this video. Excellent coverage of two wonderful authors.
I was so curious about your rankings as I love both authors too. Your little summary of each book was superb and the way you explain how some of these books grow in your mind over time or when you reread them. I really found that with Romola. I must read Sylvia's Lovers and get back to Wives and Daughters that I last read in my teens.
I enjoyed this so much! It definitely makes me want to reread Gaskell and try some more Eliot!
Thanks for your information and enthusiasm. I've yet to read "Ruth" and "Romala." I agree with you about "The Mill on the Floss"; one of her weakest works. As for "Middlemarch", I have read it twice and find it utterly awesome. And Gaskell, having faith, is more balanced and uplifting than Hardy 😊.
Thank Goodness our American cousins keep the literary flame of Victorian
Britain ( the female side ! ) burning brightly. .Thank you Kate! It's good to know that people like you are out there ! !
It's literature the deserves to continue being read forever!
Lord Grantham played Hanleigh Grandcourt in a 2002 adaptation of "Daniel Deronda".
Yes he did! I watched him first in Daniel Seconds as Haleigh Grandcoutt before seeing him in Downton Abbey . It took me a little while to warm to his character in Downton Abby for that reason.
Loved this! Thank you for your insight.
I’m really surprised that Middlemarch ranked so high! It’s one of my favourite books. I should get to Wives and Daughters soon!
Kate! I’m just going through some of your older videos, and while watching this one thought maybe you want to buddy read “The Lifted Veil” and “Brother Jacob” with our little GE buddy reading group this Victober! It’s going to be my very last GE fiction, and then I will be a completionist!
That's so lovely of you to invite me! I think my Victober tbr is already pretty full unfortunately. I hope it's a lovely time though!
@@katehowereads 😊👍🏻
Middlemarch considered by many the finest classic English novel.
I liked Middlemarch but i liked The Mill on the Floss even more. It was such s beautifully written book.
I almost thought you were going to say 'Middlemarch' is your number 1 pick, and I would have been astonished! LOL I think this is a great idea for a video. Love it! I've got a lot of Eliot reading to do now, so I can do my own ranking. I haven't read Middlemarch in five years and that was when I was first dipping my toes into Vic Lit. I definitely want to re-read.
I saw the Middlemarch miniseries and I read and watched Wives and Daughters. I remember how the female main character really loved her husband and wanted to really help him. She loved his ideas and she was so sweet to an unlovable man. But he turned on her because he was jealous of his cousin. He really drove things out of proportion and sort of made them be drawn together. He was just a miserable man. Wives and Daughters was more Austenesque. I loved those characters. I read Sylvias Lovers but I don't remember one thing about it.
I love Gaskell, but I've only read Silas Marner by Eliot. I want to read more by both authors. I haven't been able to participate in Victober this year. I'm still working out how to find time to read with a new baby.
Thank you for that! Very informative. I am currently reading North and South. I am a slow reader and these clunkers are intimidating. I want to get faster but it’s sacrificing good lines I would normally mull over and pressing on through lines I didn’t understand. I read Silas Marner in juco and did a book report on it in literature class. I remember loving it. I want to try a lot of the ones you reviewed. Great video!
Ooops! Chunkers not clunkers! 🤨
I didn't know that little snippet about Dickens and Elliot, now I want to challenge myself and read some books without knowing the gender of the author and see if I can guess... I think Eliot would be guessable, also the Brontes, but I'm saying that from a position of knowledge.
I can't wait to read from those to see where I fall with them! I love a good ranking.
Gaskell for the win.
North and South is the only novel I've read by Elizabeth Gaskell. I didn't enjoy it because I felt that Margaret was a Mary Sue type character. She was always praised by the author, but I didn't feel like what we were shown justified the praise. Are Gaskell's protagonists all written like Margaret?
I’ve still got three Eliot to read and even though I’ve read all of Gaskell once I think rereads would be necessary to do my own ranking. Sylvia’s Lovers I struggled with because it’s so sad and although I loved Middlemarch first go, When I read Daniel Deronda I just wanted more Gwendolyn- less Daniel 😉
Yes, considering Mrs Gaskell- never read her.
I can not separate the two from each other love you and your amazing channel prayers and thoughts for you and your family love your family friend John ❤❤❤
For me, George Eliot's work feels like encountering a power and mind for the ages, while Gaskell feels like reading a good Victorian novelist. I enjoy Gaskell but her work just seems like a tier below Eliot's consistently.
Gaskell > Eliot
Both of these novelists are major writers, and owing to the significance, diversity, and maturity of their productions, are far more important than Jane Austen who, a decent stylist, was a sexless adolescent and escapist.