The BBC is well known for its high quality costume dramas and this is one of the best in recent years. Molly learns about people, about herself and also about the world around her, even about the little creatures who live at the bottom of ponds. It shows ordinary life but also how rich that ordinary life is. The length of the mini-series allows character development, enables one to get to know the characters.

Even small scenes like the card party for the young people are rich in character and emotion. Andrew Davies wanted to put across the feeling of what it means to be alive and he does that by showing what it is like to be human. The characters are real people, flawed and petty and proud and anxious, but you can't help loving them. She is played splendidly by Justine Waddell who stays the centre of the film, even though surrounded by great actors like Michael Gambon, Bill Paterson, Penelope Wilton and Francesca Annis who are all perfect in their roles. All seen through the eyes of Molly Gibson. The story covers Austen territory, two or three families, idiosyncratic supporting characters, love and marriage, hearth and society. This particular book was unfinished but one can't fault the way Andrew Davies has rounded off the story. Her work is definitely still worth reading. The original author Elizabeth Gaskell was a major writer of her day and can stand comparison with most novelists except perhaps for Austen and Dickens. Dr.'Wives and Daughters' is not usually as regarded as highly as the BBC's celebrated 'Pride and Prejudice' mini-series but it is just as good in its own way.Gibson (Wives and Daughters)/Original Character(s) (1) North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell | UK TV (1).Wives and Daughters - Elizabeth Gaskell (8).Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings (1).But I think that I loved you ever since you first comforted me, long ago, when you found me crying over my father's marriage.' Language: English Words: 29,678 Chapters: 12/12 Comments: 23 Kudos: 142 Bookmarks: 22 Hits: 3042 I wrote to you never expecting that you could ever return the affection and esteem that I felt for you I knew that you looked on me only as a sister, as you had always done. 'I had been so miserable, ever since you fell in love with Cynthia and then left for Africa. Emmadelosnardos Fandoms: Wives and Daughters - Elizabeth Gaskell

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