Sylvia's Lovers (1863) is one of Elizabeth Gaskell's later novels, followed only by Cousin Phillis (1864) and my favorite work of hers, Wives and Daughters (1866). Sylvia's Lovers reflects a more mature and sophisticated writing style than her earlier works like Mary Barton, North and South, and Cranford.The plot is fascinating and quite engaging. It is set during the mid-1790s in the small coastal whaling community of 'Monkshaven' modeled on Whitby that Gaskell visited in 1859. The novel takes place during the early years of the Napoleonic wars that consumed England, and much of the world, for the next twenty years.This is a book about the working class of northern England, the simple folk that farmed, manned the shops, and went to sea in whaling ships season after season. England's war with France changes everything though; and we see these changes come to Monkshaven through the eyes of young Sylvia Robson, her father and mother, and her cousin Philip Hepburn. While there is a deep-seated patriotic fervor among the residents of Monkshaven, there is also a profound anger at the government for its use of impressment gangs (press gangs) to find able-bodied men to man the ships of the Royal Navy. Men were forcibly taken from their families and livelihoods, assigned to ships, and sailed off to war; from which many never returned.Sylvia is an uneducated and relatively naive young woman more inclined to her flights of fancy rather than following the calm more steady influence of her mother. Sylvia's cousin, Philip, loves her with his heart and soul and endeavors to teach her to read, write, and to learn some arithmetic; but Sylvia only has eyes and feelings for her friend's cousin, the whaling harpooner, Charlie Kinraid. In large part, it is around this romantic triangle of Sylvia, Philip, and Charlie that the rest of the novel really turns.This is a novel about justice, injustice, the consequences of one's actions (or inactions), and the notion of real redemption and forgiveness. In this novel, Elizabeth Gaskell has created some very realistic characters that make decisions that some of us might question, but feel right for the character. Some of these decisions lead to some terrible and final outcomes. Ultimately though, the circle is closed and the novel's protagonists find the right paths. While the novel might not have a 'fairy-tale happy ending,' it is a realistic and, in my opinion, appropriate ending. Gaskell herself said that Sylvia's Lovers was "the saddest story I ever wrote." Another very important and interesting aspect of this novel is Gaskell's use of the vernacular and local dialect of the people she was writing about. In this case, her use of the dialect of Yorkshire in her character's dialogs give an incredibly gritty and earthy feel of authenticity to the novel; particularly the differences in speech between the educated and uneducated. I can also see how some readers could find this off-putting as it does take some 50-60 pages to become comfortable with the use of this local dialect. The Penguin Classics edition that I read has an excellent section of end-notes and an appendix that explains the Yorkshire dialect and defines many of the more obscure terms. Both, Gaskell, and her husband, William, were interested in local dialects, and she tried to accurately utilize local dialects in much of her fiction. I believe that English literature is that much richer for her efforts; as it is through her novels that we all gain a much clearer picture of the peoples and their ways of life in their own times.In my opinion, this book is right up there with her last novel, Wives and Daughters. Sylvia's Lovers is beautifully plotted and written, and a novel that I highly recommend.
Decisamente diverso da quello che mi aspettavo.Passate le prime 100 pagine non riuscivo più a smettere di leggerlo, *dovevo* sapere! La parte centrale è molto ben fatta, ma gli ultimi capitoli sono appesantiti da tantissimi richiami alle Scritture. Secondo me questo libro avrebbe avuto bisogno di un buon editor... qualcosa poteva essere tagliato, i riferimenti religiosi e il tono moraleggiante del finale potevano essere attenuati, e quanto alla coerenza interna, un personaggio minore cambia nome tre volte in tre capitoli (Peggy Dawson, vedova Moore, vedova Dobson).Inizialmente pensavo che questo romanzo sarebbe stato come "Nord e Sud": una storia d'amore che dopo tante peripezie finisce bene, oltre che una rappresentazione della società del tempo. Ci ho azzeccato sullo spaccato della società, anche se le vicende del romanzo sono ambientate nell'ultimo decennio del Settecento, mentre l'Inghilterra era in guerra contro la Francia di Napoleone. Ma questa non è veramente una storia d'amore, il tema principale è il perdono, a volte tardivo, o l'impossibilità di perdonare. La narrazione si apre nel 1796 (o forse è il 1793? C'è qualche problema di coerenza interna anche con le date) e la protagonista, Sylvia Robson, è una giovane non ancora diciassettenne, di famiglia contadina, che vive in una fattoria nel Nord dello Yorkshire, in prossimità della cittadina di Monkshaven. Nella zona la maggiore opportunità di reddito è costituita dalla caccia alle balene e molti giovani si imbarcavano sulle baleniere. I marinai, però, erano preda ambita per le bande di circoscrizione, che catturavano uomini validi per arruolarli forzatamente nell'esercito.La giovane e bellissima Sylvia attira l'attenzione di due innamorati. Uno è il cugino Philip Hepburn, taciturno e studioso, commesso nel maggiore negozio di stoffe di Monkshaven. L'altro è il ramponiere Charles Kinraid, cugino di un'amica di Sylvia, virile e coraggioso. All'inizio del romanzo, Kinraid viene ferito mentre tenta di impedire a una banda di circoscrizione di catturare i suoi compagni; quando viene presentato a Sylvia, cattura subito la sua attenzione per via dei modi galanti e delle storie avventurose che racconta sulle sue esperienze in mare. Eppure Kircaid nota anche le altre ragazze, mentre Philip Hepburn non vede che Sylvia e nutre per lei un amore assoluto e esclusivo. Mentre Hepburn cerca di migliorare la propria posizione economica (cosa che gli permetterebbe di fare una proposta a Sylvia), Kircaid si fidanza segretamente con lei e le promette di sposarla l'anno venturo, al suo ritorno dal viaggio in mare che l'aspetta. Ma il destino deciderà diversamente, intrecciando le sorti di Kircaid a un segreto custodito da Hepburn.Tra i due spasimanti di Sylvia ho preferito da subito Philip (parteggio sempre per l'innamorato non corrisposto che spera o si dispera in segreto), mentre non sono riuscita mai a sentire grande simpatia nei confronti di Kircaid. E questo sebbene un'azione spregevole di Philip mettesse serialmente a rischio la felicità sia di Sylvia, sia di Kircaid. Sylvia, oggetto di tanto amore, non è mai veramente felice nel romanzo. La sua ostinazione e l'incapacità dichiarata di perdonare la espongono all'infelicità e al rimorso. Il finale è troppo tragico per me, che mi aspettavo un finale più lieto.Tra i personaggi minori colpisce quello di Hester, amica e collaboratrice di Philip, segretamente innamorata di lui. Praticamente una santa.
What do You think about Sylvia's Lovers (1997)?
I really enjoyed this book, tragic romance, Napoleonic wars and all set in Whitby! (Though called Monkshaven it was so obviously Whitby every time they walked up the stairs to the church it made me irrationally happy) The books started strongly with the description of the town and the fear of the press gangs. It got a little slow in the first half, but picked up again for the 2nd half. I realised towards the end that this is sort of the opposite story to the tale of adventure you'd expect. Normally the hero would be Kinraid and would follow his adventures as a whalers, capture by the press gang and adventures in the navy fighting Napoleon, with only a fond recollection for his love back at home. But instead Mrs. Gaskell told the story from the point of view of those left at home. Definitely not as "action packed" but very emotional. I liked all the characterisation in this, though I did not like all the characters. I thought Philip was almost totally unlikeable, which is why I think I found parts a little slow as they were from his point of view. I just couldn't feel any sympathy for him. I think one of the things that Mrs. Gaskell does best is make even her meanest characters sympathetic in some way, so I can assume that this must have been intentional. He was dull, self-serving and unimaginative. Sylvia I liked, despite her aversion to book learning. I wished more time had been spent on her point of view. I felt sorry for her and liked her willfulness. The minor characters were also great, Hester and Molly (who could have been straight out of Cranford). The dialect dialogue did take a bit of getting used to. But the writing style, particularly the little asides about how things used to be 60-70 years ago and how people were then, were brilliant. Unfortunately now I have read all of Mrs. Gaskell's novels and only have some short stories left to read. But I will definitely be going back at some point and reading this one again.
—Mel
I am so excited that I have discovered Elizabeth Gaskell! I'm anxious to read all of her books - two down, four to go. I love the way Gaskell describes how a historic crises affects ordinary people. In "North and South", it is a strike within the textile industry. In "Sylvia's Lovers", it is the British military practice of impressment (referred to as "the press gangs") during the French wars with Napoleon. I also love how Gaskell juxtaposes different characters to highlight various strengths and weaknesses. Philip Hepburn and Charley Kinraid both love Sylvia, but one is steady, conservative, and predictable whereas the other is passionate, visionary, and unreliable. It would be nice to create the perfect lover by combining the two of them, but there is no such thing as a perfect man; so I had fun trying to decide who would make the better choice.Finally, I really enjoy Gaskill's themes of innocence, deceit, forgiveness, and redemption. Even though her characters lived long ago, I could still relate and participate in their joys, sorrows, and lessons about life.
—Laura
If you would like to read a novel by Mrs. Gaskell do not start with this one. The characters follow a very predictable trajectory, all the while speaking in a thick dialect that can be annoying to read. It's probably best for Mrs. Gaskell enthusiasts or completionists. Set in the last years of the 18th century, the novel reveals the "press-gangs" (the people who conscripted unwilling members of HIs Majesty's military) and their unscrupulous ways. It also problematizes the idea of "love"--who is in love, what does love mean, and what does one do for love? Desperate measures all around!
—Natalie Tyler
