Young Molly Gibson is the daughter of the widowed Dr Gibson. She has been brought up by her father, but as Molly approaches adulthood Dr Gibson foresees trouble ahead, and Mollyâs life changes forever when her father decides to re-marry, bringing a new stepmother and stepsister into their formerly quiet lives. Though sweet and lovable, Mollyâs new stepsister Cynthia has a knack for getting into trouble and soon she and Molly find themselves in all sorts of trying situations. Jane Austen fans would also enjoy this charming novel from the much-loved Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell. Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) is an enduringly popular and highly regarded English novelist. Born in Chelsea, London, Elizabeth was sent to live with her aunt in Knutsford, Cheshire after her mother died, a place which would provide inspiration for some of her most popular works, including âCranfordâ. A sociable and lively young woman, Elizabeth married Minister William Gaskell in 1832 and settled in Manchester. An industrial hub and the scene of much political and social change, her time in Manchester influenced much of her writing. Her first novel, âMary Bartonâ focussed on the appalling and impoverished living conditions of those living in Northern industrial cities and was a huge success, sparking the interest of notable figures such as Charles Dickens, who invited Elizabeth to contribute to the periodicals he edited. An active humanitarian, her works dealt sympathetically with the plight of the poorest in society, and she did not shy away from controversial topics such as prostitution and illegitimacy. A close friend of Charlotte BrontÃĢ, Elizabeth also wrote a highly acclaimed biography of the author in 1857. Some of her best known and most loved novels include âCranfordâ, âNorth and Southâ and the posthumously published âWives and Daughtersâ, all of which have been adapted for TV by the BBC, most recently âCranfordâ starring Judi Dench, Michael Gambon, and Greg Wise. Elizabeth Gaskell is regarded as one of the most important novelists of the Victorian era.