"The Half-Brothers" by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell explores the intricate dynamics between two half-brothers in the English countryside during the Victorian era. The story begins with the narrator’s mother’s difficult remarriage to a wealthy farmer, William Preston, who resents her first son, Gregory. Growing up, the brothers develop contrasting personalities, leading to a relationship filled with tension and misunderstanding. A pivotal moment occurs when the narrator becomes lost in a snowstorm, and Gregory heroically saves him, sacrificing his own life in the process. This act of selflessness brings about a deep realization and overwhelming regret for their father. The tale unfolds themes of family, love, jealousy, and sacrifice, set against a backdrop of societal expectations and personal emotions.
The Half-Brothers
By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Amidst family tensions and a father’s resentment, a selfless act during a snowstorm reveals the true depth of brotherly love and brings devastating regret.
Summary
About the AuthorElizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, often referred to as Mrs Gaskell, was an English novelist, biographer, and short story writer. Her novels offer a detailed portrait of the lives of many strata of Victorian society, including the very poor. Her first novel, Mary Barton, was published in 1848. Gaskell's The Life of Charlotte Brontë, published in 1857, was the first biography of Charlotte Brontë. In this biography, she wrote only of the moral, sophisticated things in Brontë's life; the rest she omitted, deciding certain, more salacious aspects were better kept hidden. Among Gaskell's best known novels are Cranford (1851–1853), North and South (1854–1855), and Wives and Daughters (1864–1866), all of which were adapted for television by the BBC.
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, often referred to as Mrs Gaskell, was an English novelist, biographer, and short story writer. Her novels offer a detailed portrait of the lives of many strata of Victorian society, including the very poor. Her first novel, Mary Barton, was published in 1848. Gaskell's The Life of Charlotte Brontë, published in 1857, was the first biography of Charlotte Brontë. In this biography, she wrote only of the moral, sophisticated things in Brontë's life; the rest she omitted, deciding certain, more salacious aspects were better kept hidden. Among Gaskell's best known novels are Cranford (1851–1853), North and South (1854–1855), and Wives and Daughters (1864–1866), all of which were adapted for television by the BBC.
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