Cranford

by Elizabeth Gaskell

Patricia Ingham (Editor)

From the author of North and South and Mary Barton, Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford is a standalone publication of Elizabeth Gaskell's best-known work, with a critical introduction by Patricia Ingham in Penguin Classics.

Cranford depicts the lives and preoccupations of the inhabitants of a small village - their petty snobberies, appetite for gossip, and loyal support for each other in times of need This is a community that runs on cooperation and gossip, at the very heart of which are the daughters of the former rector: Miss Deborah Jenkyns and her sister Miss Matty, But domestic peace is constantly threatened in the form of financial disaster, imagined burglaries, tragic accidents, and the reapparance of long-lost relatives. to Lady Glenmire, who shocks everyone by marrying the doctor. When men do appear, such as 'modern' Captain Brown or Matty's suitor from the past, they bring disruption and excitement to the everyday life of Cranford.

In her introduction, Patricia Ingham places the novel in its literary and historical context, and discusses the theme of female friendship and Gaskell's narrative technique. This edition also contains an account of Gaskell's childhood in Knutsford, on which Cranford is based, appendices on fashion and domestic duties supplemented by illustrations, a chronology of Gaskell's life and works, suggestions for further reading, and explanatory notes.

Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-65) was born in London, but grew up in the north of England in the village of Knutsford. In 1832 she married the Reverend William Gaskell and had four daughters, and one son who died in infancy. Her first novel, Mary Barton, was published in 1848, winning the attention of Charles Dickens, and most of her later work was published in his journals. She was also a lifelong friend of Charlotte Brontë, whose biography she wrote.

If you enjoyed Cranford, you may like Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, also available in Penguin Classics.

• ISBN10: 0141439882
• ISBN13: 9780141439884
• Publish Date: 30 June 2005 (first published 31 December 1992)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
• Imprint: Penguin Classics
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 304
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780141439884

Reviews

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell is a collection of short stories surrounding the small town of Cranford and the eccentric women who live there.

As I said, Cranford is a small town which is high in the population of female. In the first section of the book, every male who enters the town drops like flies making it feel jinxed or like an old fashioned sorority.

Elizabeth Gaskell's novel is a sequence of short stories that all intertwine. I'm typically not a short story reader so it took me a while to get into it and go with the flow. Although, once there Cranford is enchanting! All the characters are so lively that one can not help but fall in love, which is odd because most of the females are against that.

You cannot write a review without speaking of Miss Matty. She is a kind old soul who while should seem a woman with much wisdom, she is in fact a nieve child-like girl who everyone coddles and adores because of her sweet nature. I won't say much in fear that I could give too much away, but an example of this is when Matty's companion is engaged to be married but worries about mentioning it in case it were to upset her and devises a plan so everything benefits the surrounding persons.

My favorite and what I felt to be the most entertaining stories is of Lady Glenmire's appearance. Believed to be the highest of society with the residence in town all in a tizzy over the preparations only to find that she is no different from themselves.

The running around reminded me of a Faulty Towers episode particularly the one where "The Germans" visit the hotel. Really, when I think about it the majority of these stories could have been a highly sophisticated Faulty Towers.