Elizabeth Gaskell, Sylvia's Lovers

Josie Billington (University of Liverpool)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.07: English Writing and Culture of the Victorian Period, 1837-1901.
Vol. editors: Gillian Fenwick (University of Toronto), Jessica Gossling (Goldsmiths College, University of London)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1863

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

Save to Bookshelf

Sylvia’s Lovers

is set in Whitby in the 1790’s when the town (renamed Monkshaven in the novel) was a thriving whaling port, and its central shaping event concerns the activities of the press gang in forcibly recruiting for the English navy during the French Revolutionary wars. Sylvia Robson is the only child of erstwhile sailor Daniel and his wife Bell, and the object of devotion of her cousin Philip Hepburn, a dully serious merchant’s clerk and doggedly loyal visitor to Haytersbank Farm, despite Sylvia’s dislike of his attentions. Philip in his turn is loved, unbeknown to him, by Hester, daughter of Alice Rose with whom he lodges. When a homeward-bound whaler is attacked by the press gang, Charley Kinraid, its chief harpooner (“specksioneer”) is the dazzling hero of the…

Please log in to consult the article in its entirety. If you are a member (student of staff) of a subscribing institution (see List), you should be able to access the LE on campus directly (without the need to log in), and off-campus either via the institutional log in we offer, or via your institution's remote access facilities, or by creating a personal user account with your institutional email address. If you are not a member of a subscribing institution, you will need to purchase a personal subscription. For more information on how to subscribe as an individual user, please see under Individual Subcriptions.

2304 words

Citation: Billington, Josie. "Sylvia's Lovers". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 February 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=1763, accessed 24 April 2024.]

Save this article