Wives and Daughters (Dramatic Reading)
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Read 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
Cast list:
Narrated by: Lynette Caulkins and Beth Thomas
Molly Gibson: K.G.Cross
Cynthia Kirkpatrick: Amanda Friday
Mr Gibson: Joseph Tabler
Mrs Gibson/Betty/Frederick Greenwood: Elizabeth Klett
Roger Hamley: Larry Wilson
Osborne Hamley: Eden Rea-Hedrick
Squire Hamley: Michael Armenta
Mrs Hamley/Miss Pipe/Bethia: Vanessa Cooley
Lady Agnes/Martha/Miss Airy/Mrs. Bradley: Farheen
Lady Cumnor: Ruth Golding
Lady Harriet Cumnor: Libby Gohn
Lord Cumnor: tovarisch
Lord Hollingford/Williams: Rob Marland
Dick Hayward: Ryan Cooley
Hannah Oakes/Housemaid: SionedV
Helen Kirkpatrick/Mrs. Brown/Mrs. Parkes: Lydia
Housemaid 2: Hannah Mather
Lady Guest: Heather Masters
Major Coxe/Old Mr. Silas: Alan Mapstone
Maria: Miriam Esther Goldman
Marie-Aimée Scherer/Mrs. Goodenough/Lady Mary Cuxhaven: Carol Eades King
Miss Dorothy Browning: Michele Eaton
Miss Goodenough/Jenny: Woolly Bee
Miss Hornblower/Mrs. Dyson: Gemma L Myers
Miss Phoebe Browning: Maria Kasper
Mr Ashton/Mr.Roscoe/Banker: DomBombadil
Mr Coxe: BeniaminoMassimo
Mr Hall: Algy Pug
Mr Robert Preston: Brett W. Downey
Mr Sheepshanks/Robinson: Mike Pelton
Mr Wynne/Mrs. Dawes: Alex Lane
Mrs Kirkpatrick (Cynthia's aunt): Dorothy Godfrey-Smith
Mrs Silas/Dick/Groom/Mr. Kirkpatrick: Kimberly Krause
Willie/Grandchild: Evie Maria
Young Master Hamley: Zoe Trang
:
Audio edited by: Linette Geisel, K.G.Cross, Michele Eaton, Mary J, Kim, Bhavya, Mira Williams and VocalPenguin
:
Proof Listeners: Stav Nisser, Linette Geisel, Beth Thomas , MaxineMarie, Lynda Marie Neilson, VocalPenguin, Mira Williams and Bhavya
(26 hr 8 min)
Chapters
| Dramatis Personae | 4:03 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| The Dawn of a Gala Day | 22:12 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| A Novice Amongst The Great Folk | 37:25 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Molly Gibson's Girlhood | 19:07 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Mr Gibson's Neighbours | 32:37 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Calf Love | 29:15 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| A Visit to the Hamleys | 33:36 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Foreshadows of Love Perils | 16:52 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Drifting Into Danger | 35:39 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| The Widower and The Widow | 23:34 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| A Crisis | 46:04 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Making Friendship | 39:07 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Preparing for the Wedding | 22:01 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Molly Gibson's New Friends | 24:07 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Molly Finds Herself Patronized | 32:22 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| The New Mamma | 17:56 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| The Bride At Home | 22:22 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Trouble At Hamley Hall | 27:55 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Mr Osborne's Secret | 28:53 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Cynthia's Arrival | 24:05 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Mrs Gibson's Visitors | 19:39 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| The Half-Sisters | 30:48 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| The Old Squire's Troubles | 27:00 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Osborne Hamley Reviews His Position | 20:50 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Mrs Gibson's Little Dinner | 14:50 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Hollingford in a Bustle | 19:46 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| A Charity Ball | 40:00 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Fathers and Sons | 18:03 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Rivalry | 25:54 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Bush Fighting | 32:43 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Old Ways and New Ways | 20:21 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| A Passive Coquette | 22:05 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Coming Events | 31:47 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Brightening Prospects | 18:11 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| A Lover's Mistake | 20:37 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| The Mother’s Manoeuvre | 34:32 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Domestic Diplomacy | 13:25 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| A Fluke and What Came Of It | 31:47 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Mr Kirkpatrick Q. C. | 25:26 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Secret Thoughts Ooze Out | 29:46 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Molly Gibson Breathes Freely | 18:39 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Gathering Clouds | 26:22 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| The Storm Bursts | 20:13 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Cynthia's Confession | 21:23 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Molly Gibson to the Rescue | 20:52 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Confidences | 19:58 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Hollingford Gossips | 21:43 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Scandal and Its Victims | 29:14 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| An Innocent Culprit | 21:42 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Molly Gibson Finds a Champion | 22:56 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Cynthia At Bay | 29:52 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Troubles Never Come Alone | 22:16 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Squire Hamley's Sorrow | 29:25 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Unlooked-for Arrivals | 29:03 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Molly Gibson’s Worth is Discovered | 28:24 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| An Absent Lover Returns | 23:28 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Off with the Old Love and On with the New | 21:25 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Bridal Visits and Adieux | 26:54 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Reviving Hopes and Brightening Prospects | 26:04 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Molly Gibson at Hamley Hall | 26:13 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Roger Hamley's Confession | 32:52 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
| Concluding Remarks | 12:26 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
Reviews
Several voices worth listening to
Cara Virostko
I rate the performance and not the text because E. Gaskell stands amongst Jane Austen and other greats. As for the recording, I say that only some of the voices are worth hearing because a few are downright dreadful. I will not say which, but let you decide, for even with the few monotone or inappropriately cast or with overzealous diction, this recording is still worth hearing.
What a great look into earlier times
Linda in PNW