To: Mr. Charles Dickens
From: Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskell
December 13th, 1848
Dear Mr. Dickens,
How are you and Catherine? And all the children?
I am so sorry to hear about Franny. She was a wonderful friend to me and I am sure your entire family will miss her dreadfully. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.
I had a visit from Charlotte Bronte last month and we spent hours talking about your latest Christmas novel The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain. We wait in anxious anticipation for every new book you write. You have such an honest way of writing my friend, I wish I had the ability to make my dark characters so realistic. They scare me in such a delightful way, as do Charlotte's dark brooding characters. However all is not well in the Bronte household. Emily is very ill and the family do not expect to see her last till Christmas. Charlotte is beside herself with grief as is Anne, they were all so very close you know.
Now I will turn from dour things to happier news. Mary Barton has been published. It was such a work to finish but it is done and is a success. Now I know how you feel every time one of your manuscripts are published. Being a woman published, and a married woman in all of that, gives me a vain feeling of superiority compared to all the lowly 'household' wives. I do suppose I will come off of my high horse soon, or so Mr. Gaskell hopes. Jane Austen was a wonderful inspiration to me, as much as dear Charlotte dislikes her books. But you Mr. Dickens are my greatest inspiration. I love the fact that you reveal the dirty side of the world, not just the upper class socialites. I tried to make my Mary Barton to be as realistic to that side of life as possible, and I hope I did those people the justice they deserve.
Oh dear Julia is screaming about one thing or another. I will write again soon friend.
Yours sincerely;
Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskell
