Elizabeth Gaskell's last novel was serialized in Cornhill Magazine from 1864 to 1866, and completed by her editor posthumously. It looks at English life in the 1830s through the experiences of Molly Gibson, the daughter of a widowed doctor growing up in the provincial town of Hollingford. When Mr. Gibson decides to marry again, Molly is forced to contend with a pretentious stepmother, but consoled by a close friendship with Cynthia, her new stepsister. The girls' relations with the local residents, particularly the Squire of Hamley Hall and his family, make for incidents comic, romantic, and tragic, by turns. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)
Chapters
1 01 - The Dawn of a Gala Day 21 min 2 02 - A Novice Amongst the Great Folk 37 min 3 03 - Molly Gibson's Childhood 17 min 4 04 - Mr. Gibson's Neighbors 29 min 5 05 - Calf-Love 29 min 6 06 - A Visit to the Hamleys 33 min 7 07 - Foreshadows of Love Perils 17 min 8 08 - Drifting Into Danger 31 min 9 09 - The Widower and the Widow 20 min 10 10 - A Crisis 43 min 11 11 - Making Friendship 37 min 12 12 - Preparing for the Wedding 19 min 13 13 - Molly Gibson's New Friends 25 min 14 14 - Molly Finds Herself Patronized 31 min 15 15 - The New Mamma 19 min 16 16 - The Bride at Home 22 min 17 17 - Trouble at Hamley Hall 26 min 18 18 - Mr. Osborne's Secret 30 min 19 19 - Cynthia's Arrival 26 min 20 20 - Mrs. Gibson's Visitors 20 min 21 21 - The Half-Sisters 32 min 22 22 - The Old Squire's Troubles 25 min 23 23 - Osborne Hamley Reviews His Position 20 min 24 24 - Mrs. Gibson's Little Dinner 15 min 25 25 - Hollingford in a Bustle 19 min 26 26 - A Charity Ball 41 min 27 27 - Fathers and Sons 17 min 28 28 - Rivalry 28 min 29 29 - Bush-Fighting 32 min 30 30 - Old Ways and New Ways 20 min 31 31 - A Passive Coquette 21 min 32 32 - Coming Events 31 min 33 33 - Brightening Prospects 16 min 34 34 - A Lover's Mistake 20 min 35 35 - The Mother's Maneuver 33 min 36 36 - Domestic Diplomacy 14 min 37 37 - A Fluke, and What Came of It 32 min 38 38 - Mr. Kirkpatrick, Q.C 24 min 39 39 - Secret Thoughts Ooze Out 28 min 40 40 - Molly Gibson Breathes Freely 20 min 41 41 - Gathering Clouds 28 min 42 42 - The Storm Bursts 21 min 43 43 - Cynthia's Confession 24 min 44 44 - Molly Gibson to the Rescue 23 min 45 45 - Confidences 22 min 46 46 - Hollingford Gossips 21 min 47 47 - Scandal and its Victims 27 min 48 48 - An Innocent Culprit 23 min 49 49 - Molly Gibson Finds a Champion 21 min 50 50 - Cynthia at Bay 29 min 51 51 - Troubles Never Come Alone 21 min 52 52 - Squire Hamley's Sorrow 30 min 53 53 - Unlooked-For Arrivals 26 min 54 54 - Molly Gibson's Worth is Discovered 27 min 55 55 - An Absent Lover Returns 22 min 56 56 - Off With the Old Love, and On With the New 20 min 57 57 - Bridal Visits and Adieux 23 min 58 58 - Reviving Hopes and Brightening Prospects 23 min 59 59 - Molly Gibson at Hamley Hall 22 min 60 60 - Roger Hamley's Confession/Concluding Remarks 41 min
