Elizabeth Gaskell

Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell was a prominent Victorian novelist known for her realistic portrayals of various social classes, particularly the poor.

Born in 1810, she married a Unitarian minister and began writing in her 30s.

Gaskell's works often addressed social issues, combining romance with critiques of industrialization and class divisions.

Her notable novels include Mary Barton, Cranford, and North and South.

Gaskell was friends with other literary figures like Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens, who published some of her work.

She died suddenly in 1865, leaving her final novel, Wives and Daughters, unfinished.

Gaskell's works continue to be appreciated for their social commentary and complex characters.