Project Gutenberg 2003-10-01 Public domain in the USA. 183 Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn 1810 1865 Gaskell, E. C. (Elizabeth Cleghorn) Gaskell, Mrs. Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn Stevenson Stevenson, Elizabeth Mills, Cotton Mather Gaskell, Elizabeth C. Sylvia's Lovers — Volume 1 Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia%27s_Lovers Produced by Charles Aldarondo. HTML version by Al Haines. "Sylvia's Lovers — Volume 1" by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell is a historical novel written in the mid-19th century. Set in the fictional town of Monkshaven on England's northeastern coast, the story introduces us to a community largely dependent on whaling and shipbuilding, entwined with themes of social class conflict and the impact of war. The narrative focuses on several central characters, notably Sylvia Robson, a spirited young woman who desires independence and a new cloak, and Philip Hepburn, her serious cousin who embodies the tensions between duty and personal desires. At the start of the novel, Monkshaven is vividly described, highlighting its geographical features, the local economy, and the history that shapes its inhabitants. The opening chapter sets the stage for the lives of the townsfolk, particularly showcasing the societal issues stemming from the press-gang—a force that forcibly conscripts men into naval service during turbulent times. We meet Sylvia and her friend Molly Corney as they venture into town to sell goods and purchase a new cloak. Their discussion reveals their differing circumstances and aspirations, while the backdrop of the press-gang's influence looms large, hinting at the struggles ahead for the community. The atmosphere becomes charged when sailors return from sea, illustrating the emotional intensity tied to the whalers' dangerous lives and the connections between love and loss in a time of conflict. This beginning establishes a rich and complex setting that draws readers into the unfolding drama. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 71.2 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. en Historical fiction Yorkshire (England) -- Fiction Man-woman relationships -- Fiction Women -- England -- Fiction PR Text Category: Historical Novels Category: Novels Category: British Literature 419819 2025-08-02T11:54:07.005810 text/html 411879 2020-12-28T02:44:22 text/html 247370 2025-08-02T11:54:14.761786 application/epub+zip 253302 2025-08-02T11:54:10.147788 application/epub+zip 227003 2025-08-02T11:54:08.890804 application/epub+zip 447764 2025-08-02T11:54:18.410733 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 433401 2025-08-02T11:54:13.995777 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 385030 2022-09-02T15:10:17.148292 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 395112 2025-08-02T11:54:06.349820 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 394944 2020-12-28T02:44:22 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 20012 2025-08-02T11:54:18.550753 application/rdf+xml 15508 2025-08-02T11:54:09.497781 image/jpeg 4055 2025-08-02T11:54:09.230774 image/jpeg 158268 2020-12-28T02:44:22 application/octet-stream application/zip 155533 2020-12-28T02:44:22 application/octet-stream application/zip 246767 2025-08-02T11:54:07.040839 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