A chance encounter sets a curse in motion, entangling the lives of a young woman and her estranged family in a web of tragedy and supernatural dread. As dark forces close in, secrets from the past resurface, and redemption seems tantalizingly out of reach. The Poor Clare is a chilling Gothic tale of vengeance, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love. Elizabeth Gaskell [1810 - 1865], born in London, England, grew up with her aunt in Knutsford, just outside Manchester. She later married William Gaskell, who was a pastor in Manchester. Among her circle of friends were Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë. Among her most famous works are Cranford and Wives and Daughters.