Ruth
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Ruth
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Narrated by:
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Eve Matheson
About this listen
Exclusively from Audible
The orphaned heroine Ruth, apprenticed to a dressmaker, is seduced by wealthy Henry Bellingham who is captivated by her simplicity and beauty. Their affair causes her to lose her home and job to which he offers her shelter, only to cruelly abandon her soon after. She is offered a chance of a new life though shamed in the eyes of society by her illegitimate son. When Henry reappears offering marriage she must choose between social acceptance and her own pride. Ruth ultimately finds a path that affirms we are not bound to repeat our mistakes.
A social audiobook of love, family and hypocrisy, it examines the Victorian views about sin and the social stigma of illegitimacy. Gaskell is compassionate in her portrayal of Ruth who would normally be outcast from respectable society.
Ruth was the first mainstream novel to cast a 'fallen woman' in the role of heroine and inevitably caused controversy when published. It predates Hardy's own such heroine in Tess of the d'Urbervilles by nearly 40 years.
Gaskell was an accomplished writer and had much of her work published in Charles Dickens' magazine Household Words. She was also friends with Charlotte Brontë and after her death, her father, Patrick Brontë, chose Gaskell to write The Life of Charlotte Brontë.
Narrator Biography
As well as a substantial portfolio of voiceover work, Eve Matheson's career spans audiobooks, theatre, television, film and radio. She has narrated several audiobooks, including Tracy Chevalier's Falling Angels and Erica James' Act of Faith, and documentaries including Fermat's Last Theorem (1996) which won several awards including a BAFTA. On screen, she is best known for her roles as Becky Sharp in the 1987 BBC adaptation of the novel Vanity Fair and as Zoe Angell in May to December (1989-1990). She has frequently appeared at the Royal National Theatre and in the West End, playing roles such as Cordelia in King Lear, Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream and as Lady Anne in Richard III. From 2005-2006, she appeared as Mrs. Milcote in the original Royal National Theatre production of Helen Edmundson's Coram Boy. Her recent television appearances have included roles in Silent Witness (2015) and Call the Midwife (2014).
Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.What listeners say about Ruth
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 18-04-2023
Full of emotion
Such a beautiful and powerful story. Full of emotional moments. Beautifully written dialogues both inward and outward. Wonderful narration!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Louisa Sellek
- 10-10-2024
The narrator’s voice complimented the story
Powerfully narrated to an equally powerful story line. It always amazes me how some authors can write such sophisticated dialogue. I definitely will look for more books from this author.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Daren
- 30-04-2018
Unforgettable
She was a white in a sea of grey. She was Ruth. An incredible powerhouse of humility. An unforgettably brilliant novel of redemption and grace.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Judy Townsend
- 03-12-2023
Really enjoyable
A good book and well narrated. It is always pleasing to have an actual end to the story, not leaving the end to the imagination. It also reminds us how difficult it could be in this era especially for women without means…
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Denise Kelleher
- 17-03-2021
A Wholesome jewel
A beautiful and honestly written tale. What an author. Like some skilled chef Miss Gaskill somehow puts in just the right amount of everything. I thoroughly enjoyed this. The reader was brilliant.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 21-01-2022
Enjoyable
Found this an easy story to listen to. Enjoyed the dialogue of the time. Storyline and narration both very good. If you enjoy period dramas you will enjoy this book.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- alix
- 26-01-2016
wonderful narrator
Eve Mathewson is wonderful! She makes the characters very believable. The story is interesting, if a little heavy going at times. I felt it was worth sticking with it to the end.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ilona35
- 26-10-2023
Please listen to this brilliant book.
A truly beautiful story! I couldn’t stop listening , neglected everything even sleep, soaked up every word like a thirsty sponge! The Narrator is the best of all the Narrators I listened to so far.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sam8071
- 28-02-2022
Story excellent
Enjoyed the book but the reader isn’t as good as some of the other narrators I’ve listened to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Heart
- 29-03-2023
Beautiful
A sublime story. Lovely narration. A pleasure to experience. There’s no other book quite like Ruth. No other character quite like Ruth.
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