Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

“ The profound pathos, the tragic interest, of this book lies in the terrible struggle that life was to a woman endowed with Charlotte Bronte's conscientiousness, affection for her family, and literary ambition, and continually curbed and thrown back by physical wretchedness. Its moral is, the unconquerable strength of genius and goodness. ”

“ These volumes supply ample information respecting the author of 'Jane Eyre.' The life itself possesses a tearful interest, that deepens as it advances towards its close. It is singularly touching, and sinks into the heart of the reader. ”

“ We echo the universal opinion as to the skill with which a difficult work has been executed, and an absorbing interest given to the narrative Whatever can be derived from sequence of events, external description, and such indications of personal character as letters afford, is furnished in the fullest abundance. ”

“ A sister authoress, gifted herself with superior powers, has described, with true woman's sympathy and eagerness, the whole course of the life which is now closed for ever. We regard the record as a monument of courage and endurance, of suffering and triumph.... All the secrets of the literarv^ workmanship of the authoress of 'Jane Eyre' are unfolded in the course of this extraordinary narrative. ”

“ Thoroughly well and artistically has the work been accomplished; an informing method presides over the whole; there is no feebleness or redunancy; every circumstance has a direct bearing on the main object of painting, vigorously and accurately, a real picture of the woman as she was. ”

“ The story of a woman's life, unfolded in this book, is calculated to make the old feel young, and the young old... By all this book will be read with interest Mrs. Gaskell has produced one of the best biographies of a woman by a woman which we can recall to mind. ”