Wives and Daughters (Dramatic Reading): Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

Wives and Daughters (Dramatic Reading), credited to Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

LibriVox recording of Wives and Daughters (Dramatic Reading) by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. Read in English by Librivox volunteers Molly and her father have lived alone since the death of her mother. Now Mr Gibson decides it will be in Molly's best interests for him to marry again. The new "Mama" brings to the household many changes, including a glamorous new step-sister. Mrs Gibson starts scheming to have Cynthia marry one of the sons of the local squire, but she does not understand Cynthia's reluctance or why Molly is meeting Mr Preston in the forest. Secrets, love affairs and society gossip abound in this social commentary novel written by Mrs Gaskell (author of North and South and Mary Barton). Love across the class divide, love of parents for children and step-children, love which is a 'heated fancy', love between sisters, and sincere self-sacrificing love of one person for another whether brother or beloved - all are delicately and delightfully drawn in this masterpiece of 19th century literature, and all are brought to life in this dramatic reading with a stunning cast of voices. - Summary by Beth Thomas

Recording facts

• Recording title: Wives and Daughters (Dramatic Reading)
• Author credits: Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 62
• Listed recording duration: 26:08:06

Catalogue topics

• romance
• england
• social commentary
• 19th century literature

Opening tracks: first 24 of 62

1. 00 - Dramatis Personae — 4:03
2. 01 - The Dawn of a Gala Day — 22:12
3. 02 - A Novice Amongst The Great Folk — 37:25
4. 03 - Molly Gibson's Girlhood — 19:07
5. 04 - Mr Gibson's Neighbours — 32:37
6. 05 - Calf Love — 29:15
7. 06 - A Visit to the Hamleys — 33:36
8. 07 - Foreshadows of Love Perils — 16:52
9. 08 - Drifting Into Danger — 35:39
10. 09 - The Widower and The Widow — 23:34
11. 10 - A Crisis — 46:04
12. 11 - Making Friendship — 39:07
13. 12 - Preparing for the Wedding — 22:01
14. 13 - Molly Gibson's New Friends — 24:07
15. 14 - Molly Finds Herself Patronized — 32:22
16. 15 - The New Mamma — 17:56
17. 16 - The Bride At Home — 22:22
18. 17 - Trouble At Hamley Hall — 27:55
19. 18 - Mr Osborne's Secret — 28:53
20. 19 - Cynthia's Arrival — 24:05
21. 20 - Mrs Gibson's Visitors — 19:39
22. 21 - The Half-Sisters — 30:48
23. 22 - The Old Squire's Troubles — 27:00
24. 23 - Osborne Hamley Reviews His Position — 20:50

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Source and rights

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