Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell

Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell was published in 1853. I think that this is the saddest book that I have ever read. It is a story of an orphaned girl named Ruth, that is taken advantage of at the tender age of 16 by an older, very rich spoiled Man. She is considered a fallen women because she becomes pregnant. The Young man's mother, takes him away from Ruth, and pays Ruth a small sum of money. Ruth tries to commit suicide, but is saved by a very kind man, and his sister. The story tells how she lives as a fallen women. It does not have a happy ending. I guess that is why it is such a sad story. I guess I like happy endings.