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Lizzie Leigh
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36 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1850
About the author
Elizabeth Gaskell
1,316 books3,880 followersElizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, née Stevenson (29 September 1810 – 12 November 1865), often referred to simply as Mrs. Gaskell, was an English novelist and short story writer during the Victorian era. Her novels offer a detailed portrait of the lives of many strata of society, including the very poor, and as such are of interest to social historians as well as lovers of literature.
AKA:
Елізабет Гаскелл (Ukrainian)
AKA:
Елізабет Гаскелл (Ukrainian)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 18, 2019
Thoughts soon.
May 13, 2015
A heartwarming short story about the unconditional love of a mother for her child. It's clear to me now that Mrs. Gaskill was deeply passionate about what she wrote and also that she not only was a devote Christian but she also felt compassion towards those society would instinctively cast out. In this work a mother goes in search of such a cast out child but her strong faith cannot detour her mission to save her child. Really enjoyed this read although not my favorite there is much to be learned from it and rightly deserves merit.
May 13, 2021
A short heartwarming Victorian story about sin and redemption. What I like with Elizabeth Gaskell is that unlike the righteous people who lived in that era, she prioritizes love and forgiveness over moral rectitude. The part where she writes about the little girl is poignant considering what happened in her personal life.
“Oh!” she said, with a sudden burst, “Will Leigh! I have thought so well of you; don’t go and make me think you cruel and hard. Goodness is not goodness unless there is mercy and tenderness with it."
“Oh!” she said, with a sudden burst, “Will Leigh! I have thought so well of you; don’t go and make me think you cruel and hard. Goodness is not goodness unless there is mercy and tenderness with it."
May 20, 2011
Like Mary Barton, "Lizzie Leigh" is the story of a fallen woman. Although the title character is marginalized for most of the narrative, appearing only by way of other characters mentioning her and by the allusions to her as "the mother/the shadow," her reappearance by name that occurs in the last section, as well as her mother's ability to nurture her in sorrow, permits Lizzie to return to society in a sense. She arrives at the family farm and lives in a secluded cottage, exiting only when another family experiences sorrow, so in a sense, she seems to me as some sort of patron saint who carries with her always the intense emotional agony that results from trauma and hardship.
Although there are some parallels between this and Mary Barton (which I also reviewed), I find this ending much more fulfilling. Although it is not ideal, the fallen woman is permitted to live, a rare instance, and to perform a task (although menial) within society, that is, to make an appearance whenever a shadow appears. The conclusion was poignant to me and utterly heart-lifting despite the continuation of her sorrow. Through it all, Lizzie manages to reestablish a moral way of life as well as strengthen her faith in God, as demonstrated by her ceaseless praying at the end. For a satisfying conclusion and a quick read, I heartily recommend this short story.
Although there are some parallels between this and Mary Barton (which I also reviewed), I find this ending much more fulfilling. Although it is not ideal, the fallen woman is permitted to live, a rare instance, and to perform a task (although menial) within society, that is, to make an appearance whenever a shadow appears. The conclusion was poignant to me and utterly heart-lifting despite the continuation of her sorrow. Through it all, Lizzie manages to reestablish a moral way of life as well as strengthen her faith in God, as demonstrated by her ceaseless praying at the end. For a satisfying conclusion and a quick read, I heartily recommend this short story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2007
a bit more palatable for gaskell, but- why need the heroine be so... perfect? but feel such- remorse? it's intolerably selfish of her. the guilt all those victorian girls must have felt
October 2, 2011
overly sentimental short story
June 7, 2021
I read this story, published without attribution in Harper's Vol 1, no 1. It was well written and I sensed the voice of an author I had read before. So I looked it up. Mrs Gaskell-- but of course!
It's a sweet sad story, a classic Victorian morality tale, but with a difference which may be hard to detect given the ravages of time. At the time this story was written, it was quite novel and liberal- minded to mention the reality of a child born out of wedlock, and hold up the example of a mother's love for a daughter whose virtue was compromised, and also to show how that daughter did her best to help her baby.
As a 21st century reader, I can't help feeling troubled that the cause of Lizzie Leigh's fall is not discussed. Who was the man who got her pregnant? Was she raped? And what of her own father who sent her to work out in the world because of his jealousy of the bond between Lizzie and her mother? -- The author does point to Lizzie's father's hardness of heart as the prime mover here, but really the peccadilloes of the men are just despaired of with no expectations that they will change. Gaskell-- does look to a future where tolerance and compassion are the norm. Lizzie's brother who had rejected her is brought round to tolerance thanks to the caring moral presence of his mother and his sweetheart. A new generation arises at the end of the story, and we sense that the sins of the past have been expiated.
One senses that Mrs. Gaskell-- knew a lot more about the vicissitudes of life than Victorian sensibility could let be expressed. While not as great a story as some of her other work, Lizzie Leigh is a worthwhile read, and the mother love is heart warming. The story also serves as an excellent relic of the good and bad aspects of early 19th century English life.
It's a sweet sad story, a classic Victorian morality tale, but with a difference which may be hard to detect given the ravages of time. At the time this story was written, it was quite novel and liberal- minded to mention the reality of a child born out of wedlock, and hold up the example of a mother's love for a daughter whose virtue was compromised, and also to show how that daughter did her best to help her baby.
As a 21st century reader, I can't help feeling troubled that the cause of Lizzie Leigh's fall is not discussed. Who was the man who got her pregnant? Was she raped? And what of her own father who sent her to work out in the world because of his jealousy of the bond between Lizzie and her mother? -- The author does point to Lizzie's father's hardness of heart as the prime mover here, but really the peccadilloes of the men are just despaired of with no expectations that they will change. Gaskell-- does look to a future where tolerance and compassion are the norm. Lizzie's brother who had rejected her is brought round to tolerance thanks to the caring moral presence of his mother and his sweetheart. A new generation arises at the end of the story, and we sense that the sins of the past have been expiated.
One senses that Mrs. Gaskell-- knew a lot more about the vicissitudes of life than Victorian sensibility could let be expressed. While not as great a story as some of her other work, Lizzie Leigh is a worthwhile read, and the mother love is heart warming. The story also serves as an excellent relic of the good and bad aspects of early 19th century English life.
August 30, 2019
Gaskell's compassionate and merciful treatment of unwed mothers already feels typical of her (after Mary Barton and another short story) and yet radical for her time; maybe more of the Victorians were the same but that's not the vision that's carried down from history. Often the impression is pure woman shouldn't know anything of such things, but here it's the women who are compassionate and a man still thinking his pure angel of a love would despise him for his sister's sin. Nothing said of the father of the illegitimate child, and at first I thought the prodigal daughter must have gone into prostitution (working in Manchester, sounding similar to a thread of Mary Barton), but it sounds like she'd gone into service which she'd been made to leave when she got in her "condition".
The mother, Mrs. Leigh, uses parables and promotes reading the New Testament for others to get a more merciful view on her daughter's situation.
Librivox audio read by Phil Benson, lovely accent and dialect reading
The mother, Mrs. Leigh, uses parables and promotes reading the New Testament for others to get a more merciful view on her daughter's situation.
Librivox audio read by Phil Benson, lovely accent and dialect reading
September 20, 2014
Diese Erzählung beginnt am Sterbebett des Familienoberhaupts. Ich vergebe ihr - damit verabschiedet er sich. Es war der größte Wunsch seiner Frau, dies noch von ihm zu hören. Nun, da die sich mit noch den Kindern verpflichtet fühlt, kann die Mutter endlich tun, was ihr schon lange am Herzen liegt: nach ihrer Tochter Lizzie suchen, eben jener, der nun endlich vergeben wurde. Man ahnt es schon, was es ist, was die so sehr in Ungnade hat fallen lassen: sie hat ein Kind bekommen.
Wie nun dieses Kind ins Spiel kommt, eine weitere Liebesgeschichte sich entwickelt, großer Kummer über die Familie kommt und am Ende doch so etwas wie Friede und Glück auf die Beteiligten wartet, liest sich auf gewohnt etwas umständlich, im schönsten Sonne altmodische Weise.
Wie nun dieses Kind ins Spiel kommt, eine weitere Liebesgeschichte sich entwickelt, großer Kummer über die Familie kommt und am Ende doch so etwas wie Friede und Glück auf die Beteiligten wartet, liest sich auf gewohnt etwas umständlich, im schönsten Sonne altmodische Weise.
March 11, 2016
I really liked this (tale? short novel? not sure about the gender) plot, about a countrygirl sent to work alone in Manchester due to the worried father think her mother was caring 'too much' about her, so she would be spoiled. Obviously, the worst happens, she gets pregnant and is expelled from the house. In the meantime, her father dies, forgiving her at last in his deathbed, so Lizzie's mother, Mrs Leight, decides to move to Manchester in attempt to persue her daughter, along with male siblings Will and Tom.
June 20, 2015
Oh dear! Very unfortunate male characters here. They all just fail so miserably! They can only hope for a stern talking to by the women in their lives to be set right. Too bad the world is still left for them to run and the melodrama stays with the women. I hear you! I´d have had hope for Tom, especially since he becomes a teacher, but alas, he stays invisible.
April 7, 2013
No acostumbro leer muchos cuentos, pero estos en particular me encantaron. El estilo de Elizabeth Gaskell es perfecto y puede retratar las situaciones más críticas de forma precisa.
February 10, 2015
Not my favorite Gaskell, but not awful either.
July 13, 2016
A very sweet short story. Oh how I love Gaskell!!
February 19, 2018
My only complaint is that it's too short! (I read this in about an hour, and I'm a slow reader.) What can I say? It's another charming story from my favorite Victorian novelist.
January 21, 2019
Gorgeous.
December 12, 2022
3.5⭐
Lizzie Leigh was published in Charles Dickens’ Household Words from March 30 to April 13, 1850.
This tale gives an excellent portrayal of the Victorian attitude towards the "fallen women" (prostitutes) of that era. Gaskell highlights and contrasts the female characters sympathetic attitudes toward fallen woman who actively seek to rectify the problems that brought about Lizzie's fall against the defeatist and conformist attitudes of the male characters. Although sympathetic to the plight of the fallen woman, Gaskell cannot completely escape the overall judgment of her times in her writing by seeing that Lizzie is punished for her sexual transgressions by the loss and death of her illegitimate daughter. Gaskell has Lizzie vindicating herself by practicing to others the same type of sympathy that was shown to her by the other women in the story.
Lizzie Leigh was published in Charles Dickens’ Household Words from March 30 to April 13, 1850.
This tale gives an excellent portrayal of the Victorian attitude towards the "fallen women" (prostitutes) of that era. Gaskell highlights and contrasts the female characters sympathetic attitudes toward fallen woman who actively seek to rectify the problems that brought about Lizzie's fall against the defeatist and conformist attitudes of the male characters. Although sympathetic to the plight of the fallen woman, Gaskell cannot completely escape the overall judgment of her times in her writing by seeing that Lizzie is punished for her sexual transgressions by the loss and death of her illegitimate daughter. Gaskell has Lizzie vindicating herself by practicing to others the same type of sympathy that was shown to her by the other women in the story.
January 20, 2021
História triste... Mas a narrativa da Gaskell é magnífica
February 5, 2020
Oh il tormento che i personaggi della Gaskell devono passare pur di arrivare alla fine dei loro libri, se ci arrivano, anche perché in alcuni casi sarebbe meglio morissero prima.
A parte gli scherzi, questi due racconti mi mancavano e li ho anche letti in italiano, quindi non posso dire niente, a parte che sembrano ben tradotti, purtroppo il melodramma é veramente troppo e senza speranza, una specie di Verga vittoriano in questo caso, e per quanto mi sforzi, non vedevo l'ora di finire queste poche pagine di sofferenza....Inoltre nella mia copia c'era anche un altro racconto, persino piú angosciante di questo, insomma...preferisco i suoi romanzi piú lunghi.
A parte gli scherzi, questi due racconti mi mancavano e li ho anche letti in italiano, quindi non posso dire niente, a parte che sembrano ben tradotti, purtroppo il melodramma é veramente troppo e senza speranza, una specie di Verga vittoriano in questo caso, e per quanto mi sforzi, non vedevo l'ora di finire queste poche pagine di sofferenza....Inoltre nella mia copia c'era anche un altro racconto, persino piú angosciante di questo, insomma...preferisco i suoi romanzi piú lunghi.
December 11, 2014
“Lizzie Leigh” is one of Elizabeth Gaskell’s short stories. I found this a little depressing and at times somewhat melodramatic.
The title character is not the heroine of the piece. She is a fallen woman, as such females were known in the 1800s. Her reason for “falling” is because she had a child out of wedlock.
She’s also a missing person, which forms the basic plot of this tale, as her mother and reluctant brother leave their farm to search for Lizzie in Manchester.
The title character is not the heroine of the piece. She is a fallen woman, as such females were known in the 1800s. Her reason for “falling” is because she had a child out of wedlock.
She’s also a missing person, which forms the basic plot of this tale, as her mother and reluctant brother leave their farm to search for Lizzie in Manchester.
January 27, 2020
This started off a bit slow, but by the end I found myself feeling quite touched at the story of Lizzie Leigh. It is what would have been then a modern-day version of the parable of the prodigal son in the Bible. It’s about the unconditional love of mother for daughter and it talks a lot about sin and forgiveness. There’s even a tiny bit of romantic love woven in. Overall, I enjoyed this short story.
June 19, 2019
A tender, loving story, full of the compassion that is so evident in Elizabeth Gaskell’s novels. And her trademark descriptions of both landscape and character also feature strongly. Although this be a short story, all Elizabeth Gaskell’s skills as an author shine through brightly, and it is a delight to read.
November 18, 2015
It was a good, quick read. The language was hard for me to follow along with. It was basically the Prodigal Son just change son to daughter. I really didn't like the ending, though. :(
April 2, 2014
Good read, but almost anything by Gaskell's good. It reminded me a bit of "The Scarlet Letter" (not in ambition, just in morality). Overall, you'll enjoy it once.
October 17, 2016
Sappy churchly ludicrous drama. Lol'd all the way through.
November 14, 2018
I love Elizabeth Gaskell. I enjoyed this short story on my phone on a long flight (thank you, Gutenberg.org!): https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2521/...
December 24, 2018
It may not be considered a holiday read but it such a heartwarming story about a mother's everlasting love that can overcome any odds.
May 14, 2019
A beautiful short story about a mother's love and forgiveness.
December 22, 2019
Touching short story. The mothers hope by not giving up on her forgotten daughter. The care from Mary for a stranger's baby. Heartbreaking accidents...
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April 10, 2021Court roman, presqu’une nouvelle, qui nous plonge dans l’Angleterre du XIX e siècle, avec sa bien-pensance, la soumission des femmes à leurs maris, la forte emprise de la religion, les filles mères bannies pour avoir jeté l’opprobre sur leur famille, la misère qui sévit particulièrement dans les villes industrielles .
C’est globalement triste, malgré quelques lueurs d’espoir comme la reprise en mains de son présent et de son avenir par la mère devenue veuve.
Les personnages masculins sont particulièrement antipathiques alors que les femmes font preuve d’empathie et de solidarité. Féministe, Elizabeth Gaskell ?
Je n’ai pas été aussi conquise que les lecteurs précédents , mais je l’ai lu dans une version trouvée sur internet et assez lourdement traduite, ça n’aide pas ! C’est pourquoi je ne note pas cette lecture. Je retenterai une autre œuvre d’Elizabeth Gaskell pour me faire vraiment une opinion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews