1841 Elizabeth to Anne Robson (Gaskell): ‘Oh how cold it is, and how I long for some of your elderberry wine’. #gaskelleveryday

1848 to Catherine Winkworth: ‘We expected Mr. W. Shaen to breakfast here, and we were all ready, but my lord dashed in, hat in hand, and despising cold pheasant, ham and what not, said he was going to the Winkworths’ to breakfast’. #gaskelleveryday

She [Miss Jenkyns] was always expecting letters and always drumming on the table until the post-woman had called or gone past. On Christmas Day and Good Friday she [Miss Jenkyns] drummed from breakfast till church, from church-time till two o’clock.’ Cranford

Nothing to read? Our lovely blog is PACKED with Gaskellian goodness. Come and have a browse - quotes, articles, updates, opinions, video and more. You’re most welcome gaskellsociety.co.uk/blog/

1852 to Marianne: ‘E. Shaen wants to know if you can go and choose one of the two pianos she has chosen as the best at Broadwoods’. #gaskelleveryday

A very happy Christmas to all our members and Gaskell fans all over the world. “And [roses] flowering all the year round, especially at Christmas - make your picture complete.” North and South

1852 to Marianne: ‘A merry Christmas to you, and plenty of them my darling.…we are not going to keep Xmas day until New Year’s day, partly because you won’t be here, partly because the presents are not ready’. #gaskelleveryday

To all our lovely Gaskell Society members, their friends and families “A merry Christmas to you and plenty of them… “

We are a friendly and sociable society - and we’d love to meet you! Join us for newsletters, journals, socials, meetings talks and outings. gaskellsociety.co.uk/join-us/

1861 To Marianne in Rome: Your Dec. 7th letter had to be paid pretty heavily for at this end…It was 2 foreign sheets and a half besides the envelope, so remember that is too much’. #gaskelleveryday

1852 to Edward Chapman: ‘Oh! You tiresome Mr. Chapman - to go and send me Ruth which I have read and not Francis Croft which I have not read; and it’s a rainy day, and I want a new book! #gaskelleveryday

1853 to Marianne: ‘Papa taking the little ones to walk with him in the Park, and make snow-balls’. #gaskelleveryday

Join us! It’s fun! gaskellsociety.co.uk/join-us/

1851 To Emily Tagart: ‘Who do you think is staying with us? Mrs. Preston from Skelwith ; who has never been in a town larger than Kendal before’. (Mrs Preston was mother to 3 of Gaskell’s servants Will, Mary and Margaret the cook) #gaskelleveryday

Historical fiction - or crime? Social problem novels or family sagas? Industrial novelist or village tales? All of the above! Elizabeth Gaskell - Manchester’s Versatile Storyteller by Anthony Burton. Read all about it FREE here. gaskellsociety.co.uk/publications/v…

1851 To Emily Tagart: ‘ …we’ve hired a grand piano for the holidays , and got it in the dining - drawing room; and put the old one in the unfurnished drawing room’. #gaskelleveryday @GaskellsHouse

1858 to Florence Nightingale on her work about health and hospital administration in the British army. ‘ I like it, and for such numbers of reasons. First, because you know of a varnish which is as good or better than black- lead for grates’. #gaskelleveryday

February and March news - Middlemarch, national identity and a sprinkling of magic from Cranford! - mailchi.mp/2cdf077c5368/j…

Gaskell doings this week - mailchi.mp/67799b8e6ed4/m…

The Gaskell Society in March - recordings of talks on Magic and Britishness; discussions about 'fallenness' and our Graduate Essay Prize mailchi.mp/9873d03c9b08/m…