Elizabeth Gaskell 
My Lady Ludlow [PDF ebook] 

This beloved novella from author Elizabeth Gaskell offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of women in the nineteenth century, particularly those who were widowed or unmarried. The lack of legal rights afforded to these women may come as a shock to contemporary readers, but Gaskell addresses the unique challenges they faced — and often triumphed over — with grace and keen insight.