An Accursed Race

Name: An Accursed Race
Author: Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

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About This Book

An essay chronicles the long-standing marginalization of a stigmatized minority known as Cagots in regions along the Pyrenees and western France, describing how custom and law enforced their isolation and unclear origins. It catalogs restrictions that confined them to certain trades, forbade land ownership and bearing arms, limited livestock and access to markets, fountains, and taverns, and required conspicuous badges. It details ecclesiastical segregation in churches and separate burial grounds, illustrates everyday humiliations and fines, and notes that only late legal reforms began to restore equal civic rights while leaving the group's origin and the roots of the prejudice unexplained.

About the Author

Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (1810-1865) was a prominent English novelist and short story writer known for her keen social commentary and vivid characterizations. Her works often explore the complexities of Victorian society, particularly the struggles of the working class. Gaskell's notable novels include "Mary Barton," which addresses the plight of the industrial poor, and "North and South," a tale of class conflict set against the backdrop of the industrial revolution. Additionally, her beloved work "Cranford" offers a charming portrayal of life in a small English town. Gaskell's literary contributions have left a lasting impact on English literature, making her a significant figure in the Victorian literary landscape.