Project Gutenberg 2001-03-01 Public domain in the USA. 144 Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn 1810 1865 Gaskell, E. C. (Elizabeth Cleghorn) Gaskell, Mrs. Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn Stevenson Stevenson, Elizabeth Mills, Cotton Mather Gaskell, Elizabeth C. Round the Sofa Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_the_Sofa David Price, Vanessa Mosher, Jennifer Lee, Alev Akman, Andy Wallace, Audrey Emmitt and Eugenia Corbo "Round the Sofa" by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell is a collection of reflective tales written during the mid-19th century. The work begins with the character of a young woman sent to Edinburgh for medical treatment, exploring themes of domestic life, societal norms, and the interplay of social classes. The opening introduces her routine and the various characters in her life, particularly focusing on her relationship with the kind yet confined figure of Mrs. Dawson, who hosts a Monday evening gathering of acquaintances, sparking intrigue and connection amidst the backdrop of Edinburgh's society. The beginning of "Round the Sofa" sets the stage for a thoughtful exploration of the protagonist's life as she navigates the complexities of her surroundings. Initially, she resides in a sparse lodging, experiencing the melancholy of separation from her family and the constraints imposed by her poor health and strict routines. The narrative introduces several secondary characters, including the demanding Miss Mackenzie and the charming Mrs. Dawson, with whom the protagonist forms a special bond. The stark contrast between their humble lodgings and the vibrancy of Mrs. Dawson's gatherings hints at the deeper themes of class dynamics and human connection that Gaskell will weave throughout the stories. This opening invites readers to reflect on the broader implications of women's roles in society and the warmth of companionship that offers solace against the chill of isolation. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 73.6 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. en England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction PR Text Category: Short Stories Category: British Literature 866463 2025-07-01T13:17:02.716938 text/html 889883 2021-12-22T10:55:59 text/html 441916 2025-07-01T13:17:12.384909 application/epub+zip 442974 2025-07-01T13:17:05.568953 application/epub+zip 428030 2025-07-01T13:17:04.365920 application/epub+zip 675012 2025-07-01T13:17:18.344861 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 640811 2025-07-01T13:17:11.655865 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 607855 2022-09-02T04:35:17.667930 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 845671 2025-07-01T13:17:02.122908 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 845438 2021-12-22T10:57:14 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 19194 2025-07-01T13:17:18.488811 application/rdf+xml 11299 2025-07-01T13:17:04.870870 image/jpeg 3113 2025-07-01T13:17:04.615912 image/jpeg 321664 2021-12-22T10:57:41 application/octet-stream application/zip 327105 2021-12-22T10:58:04 application/octet-stream application/zip 394819 2025-07-01T13:17:02.786882 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia