Written at the peak of her career, Gaskell's sorrowful tale of betrayed love is immensely affecting. For Paul Manning, one of the undeniable charms of the countryside is his beautiful yet nave cousin Phillis. But, when Paul finds himself uncomfortably implicated in the romantic drama that unfolds between Phillis and his sophisticated colleague, country life suddenly becomes not quite the simple and artless pleasure it once was. Gaskell's exploration of the threat posed to an uncomplicated, rustic way of life by the rapid industrialisation of the nineteenth century provides the backdrop to this touching tale of romance. The young English actor Joe Marsh makes his audiobook debut in a fine rendering of this gentle novel.