Complex sentence: Gaskell's novels, with the exception of "Cranford", gradually slipped into obscurity during the late 19th century; before 1950, she was considered a minor author with good judgment and feminine sensibilities.
Split into simpler sentences: Gaskell's novels, with the exception of "Cranford", gradually slipped into obscurity during the late 19th century. Before 1950, she was considered a minor author with good judgment and feminine sensibilities.