Book Review: "The Grey Woman" by Elizabeth Gaskell

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While caught in a rainstorm, two late 19th century travelers take shelter in a converted mill. One notices a stunning portrait of a vibrant young woman. She’s told it’s of a relative miller’s named Anna, but whom they always called “the grey woman.” The obliging miller offers the pair a manuscript, written by the woman in the portrait as a letter to her daughter explaining why she objected to her engagement. While visiting a friend in Paris about the time of the French Revolution, Anna met Monsieur de la Tourelle. M. de la Tourelle courted her and lavished gifts on her. He spoke softly and with utmost politeness to her, as well as to her hostess. Congratulating her on her conquest, her hostess decided Anna had made the perfect match. She even made inquiries about M. de la Tourelle on her behalf. Her family came from Heidelberg for the wedding. After that, Anna and M. de la Tourelle departed for his chateau outside Strasbourg. As Anna soon finds out, it’s waaay outside Strasbourg or any other berg for that matter. The roads in are bad. And the chateau is … zoned. The ancient part is for Monsieur. The modern bland part is for the new Madame. When she becomes bored, he has a flower garden planted with the idea that she tend it. He can see it easily from his apartments. The servants are rude and intimidate her, even if she is the boss. She doesn’t hear from her family and becomes depressed. The depiction of what 21st readers would recognize as an abusive, controlling relationship was chilling. The husband is often away and can be in turns affectionate and angry without discernable reason. The wife is completely isolated. She has no say in her life, no control, and is always walking on eggshells. And then one night, a series of incidents occurs that leaves her no choice but to flee with her sympathetic maid, despite her pregnancy. The rest of the book recounts their adventures. And there is a big catch at the end for the attentive reader. Author Elizabeth Gaskell, often referred to simply as Mrs. Gaskell, at times resorts to some literary devices that would be looked at askance in this day. While trying to hide from him, Anna hears her husband being told by his friends having a woman around—well, cramps their style. He responds, in so many words, by saying that he has his wife under control and that she had no idea he isn’t who he’s told her he is, and then goes on to confess his secret identity. Yeah, they just don’t make villains like they used to. Nevertheless, I like this story. Perhaps I was drawn to Anna. Hard to say. I wanted to know what happened to her, even more than I wanted to see her miserable husband get his comeuppance. While this gothic story is both melodramatic and improbable at times, it makes for an entertaining and engaging read. This story is available from Project Gutenberg in the collection The Grey Woman and Other Tales. Title: “The Grey Woman” Author: Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) First published: 1865 Source: ISFDB