Cousin Phillis

"Cousin Phillis" by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell is a novel written in the mid-19th century (Victorian era). The story revolves around Paul Manning, a young man who embarks on a journey of independence as he becomes a clerk for a railway company. Set against the backdrop of the rural English countryside, the narrative explores themes of family, social class, and the complexities of young love, particularly through the introduction of Phillis Holman, a cousin Paul has yet to meet. The opening of "Cousin Phillis" establishes Paul Manning’s transition into adulthood when he leaves home to take up his clerk position in Eltham. It captures his pride in newfound independence and his admiration for his father, who is a skilled mechanic and inventor. As he settles into his new life, Paul grapples with feelings of loneliness and nostalgia for home while he starts to develop a connection with his work friend, the managing engineer Mr. Holdsworth. The narrative hints at an impending encounter with cousin Phillis, whose existence he has only just become aware of. The tone of the beginning suggests a blend of personal growth and the intricate web of relationships, setting the stage for deeper explorations of affection and familial ties as the story progresses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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.