Cousin Phillis is a short story written by Elizabeth Gaskell between 1863 and 1864. It first appeared in four parts in The Cornhill Magazine, though plans were made for a fifth and sixth part. Later, it was published as a book, including an edition in 1908 with drawings by Mary Wheelhouse. The story follows 19-year-old Paul Manning, who moves to the countryside and becomes friends with his mother’s family and his second cousin, Phillis Holman. Phillis struggles to understand her position as she transitions into adulthood.
Most critics believe Cousin Phillis is Gaskell’s most successful short novel. The story has a simple plot, but its strength lies in how it is written and developed. It is also seen as a good introduction to Gaskell’s final and most famous novel, Wives and Daughters, which was published in The Cornhill Magazine from August 1864 to January 1866.
In 1982, the BBC produced a television version of Cousin Phillis, starring Anne-Louise Lambert, Tim Woodward, and Ian Bannen.
Characters
- Paul Manning (the narrator and Phillis's cousin)
- Mr. Manning (Paul's father and inventor)
- Mr. Edward Holdsworth (railway engineer)
- Mr. Holman (church minister and farmer)
- Mrs. Holman
- Miss Phillis Holman
- Mr. Ellison (Mr. Manning's business partner)
- Miss Lucille Ventadur (Mr. Holdsworth's wife)
- Betty (the servant at the Holman house)
Style
Cousin Phillis is hard to classify because it is between a short story and a novel. This was an unusual form in Victorian fiction, but Elizabeth Gaskell often used it. The story is told like a remembered tale, similar to an anecdote. It is set in the 1840s and explores changes in society within a small, remote village. These themes appear in other stories like Cranford and North and South.