Wives and Daughters (Dramatic Reading)
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Lu par 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)
Chapitres
Dramatis Personae | 4:03 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
The Dawn of a Gala Day | 22:12 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
A Novice Amongst The Great Folk | 37:25 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Molly Gibson's Girlhood | 19:07 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Mr Gibson's Neighbours | 32:37 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Calf Love | 29:15 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
A Visit to the Hamleys | 33:36 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Foreshadows of Love Perils | 16:52 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Drifting Into Danger | 35:39 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
The Widower and The Widow | 23:34 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
A Crisis | 46:04 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Making Friendship | 39:07 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Preparing for the Wedding | 22:01 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Molly Gibson's New Friends | 24:07 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Molly Finds Herself Patronized | 32:22 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
The New Mamma | 17:56 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
The Bride At Home | 22:22 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Trouble At Hamley Hall | 27:55 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Mr Osborne's Secret | 28:53 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Cynthia's Arrival | 24:05 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Mrs Gibson's Visitors | 19:39 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
The Half-Sisters | 30:48 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
The Old Squire's Troubles | 27:00 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Osborne Hamley Reviews His Position | 20:50 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Mrs Gibson's Little Dinner | 14:50 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Hollingford in a Bustle | 19:46 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
A Charity Ball | 40:00 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Fathers and Sons | 18:03 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Rivalry | 25:54 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Bush Fighting | 32:43 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Old Ways and New Ways | 20:21 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
A Passive Coquette | 22:05 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Coming Events | 31:47 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Brightening Prospects | 18:11 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
A Lover's Mistake | 20:37 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
The Mother’s Manoeuvre | 34:32 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Domestic Diplomacy | 13:25 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
A Fluke and What Came Of It | 31:47 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Mr Kirkpatrick Q. C. | 25:26 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Secret Thoughts Ooze Out | 29:46 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Molly Gibson Breathes Freely | 18:39 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Gathering Clouds | 26:22 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
The Storm Bursts | 20:13 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Cynthia's Confession | 21:23 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Molly Gibson to the Rescue | 20:52 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Confidences | 19:58 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Hollingford Gossips | 21:43 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Scandal and Its Victims | 29:14 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
An Innocent Culprit | 21:42 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Molly Gibson Finds a Champion | 22:56 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Cynthia At Bay | 29:52 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Troubles Never Come Alone | 22:16 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Squire Hamley's Sorrow | 29:25 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Unlooked-for Arrivals | 29:03 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Molly Gibson’s Worth is Discovered | 28:24 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
An Absent Lover Returns | 23:28 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Off with the Old Love and On with the New | 21:25 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Bridal Visits and Adieux | 26:54 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Reviving Hopes and Brightening Prospects | 26:04 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Molly Gibson at Hamley Hall | 26:13 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Roger Hamley's Confession | 32:52 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Concluding Remarks | 12:26 | Lu par LibriVox Volunteers |
Critiques
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