Skip to content
RuthElizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

Ruth

by OpenStories

Original author: Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

CompletedPublished Updated

"Ruth" by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell is a novel published in 1853. When fifteen-year-old orphan Ruth Hilton is seduced and abandoned by a wealthy gentleman, she finds herself pregnant and cast out from respectable society. Taken in by a compassionate minister and his sister, Ruth is given a new identity as a widow to protect her from scandal. As she builds a life as a governess and nurse, her past threatens to surface, forcing a reckoning with Victorian society's harsh judgment of fallen women.

Ruth, by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #4275.

  • 157,695words
  • 36chapters
  • 0stars
  • 0bookmarks
  • 2hits
Start reading

36 Chapters

  1. 1.Chapter I: The Dressmaker's Apprentice at Work3,609 words
  2. 2.Chapter II: Ruth Goes to the Shire-Hall6,577 words
  3. 3.Chapter III: Sunday at Mrs Mason's4,775 words
  4. 4.Chapter IV: Treading in Perilous Places5,832 words
  5. 5.Chapter V: In North Wales2,876 words
  6. 6.Chapter VI: Troubles Gather About Ruth3,054 words
  7. 7.Chapter VII: The Crisis--Watching and Waiting2,827 words
  8. 8.Chapter VIII: Mrs Bellingham "Does the Thing Handsomely"4,064 words
  9. 9.Chapter IX: The Storm-Spirit Subdued1,241 words
  10. 10.Chapter X: A Note and the Answer1,900 words
  11. 11.Chapter XI: Thurstan and Faith Benson4,628 words
  12. 12.Chapter XII: Losing Sight of the Welsh Mountains3,792 words
  13. 13.Chapter XIII: The Dissenting Minister's Household4,194 words
  14. 14.Chapter XIV: Ruth's First Sunday at Eccleston3,170 words
  15. 15.Chapter XV: Mother and Child2,985 words
  16. 16.Chapter XVI: Sally Tells of Her Sweethearts, and Discourses on the Duties of Life5,309 words
  17. 17.Chapter XVII: Leonard's Christening4,203 words
  18. 18.Chapter XVIII: Ruth Becomes a Governess in Mr Bradshaw's Family3,838 words
  1. 19.Chapter XIX: After Five Years4,762 words
  2. 20.Chapter XX: Jemima Refuses to Be Managed7,449 words
  3. 21.Chapter XXI: Mr Farquhar's Attentions Transferred5,106 words
  4. 22.Chapter XXII: The Liberal Candidate and His Precursor5,034 words
  5. 23.Chapter XXIII: Recognition8,476 words
  6. 24.Chapter XXIV: The Meeting on the Sands5,724 words
  7. 25.Chapter XXV: Jemima Makes a Discovery7,287 words
  8. 26.Chapter XXVI: Mr Bradshaw's Virtuous Indignation4,752 words
  9. 27.Chapter XXVII: Preparing to Stand on the Truth7,414 words
  10. 28.Chapter XXVIII: An Understanding Between Lovers4,665 words
  11. 29.Chapter XXIX: Sally Takes Her Money Out of the Bank4,751 words
  12. 30.Chapter XXX: The Forged Deed5,553 words
  13. 31.Chapter XXXI: An Accident to the Dover Coach3,225 words
  14. 32.Chapter XXXII: The Bradshaw Pew Again Occupied2,453 words
  15. 33.Chapter XXXIII: A Mother to Be Proud Of2,787 words
  16. 34.Chapter XXXIV: "I Must Go and Nurse Mr Bellingham"4,359 words
  17. 35.Chapter XXXV: Out of Darkness into Light1,777 words
  18. 36.Chapter XXXVI: The End3,247 words