Elizabeth Gaskell was born in Chelsea, London, in 1810. She was the daughter of a Unitarian minister and grew up in a religious and intellectual environment. Gaskell's early education was at home, where she read widely and developed a love of literature. She later attended a boarding school for a short time, but her formal education was limited.
The Marvelous World of Elizabeth Gaskell: A Journey through the Life and Works of an English Literary Icon