If I could describe this book in one word, it would be tender. Gaskell embues her characters with so much warmth and heart, it is difficult not to fall in love with every single one of them. Even when she is taking some hearty pot shots at the ridiculous pretensions of the impoverished aristocracy, as she is here, she does it with an infinite amount of gentleness and charm. You'll laugh, you'll cry, it's the kind of book that makes you want to shut yourself away from everybody and devour in one big cosy heap.