Title: Cranford
Author: Elizabeth Gaskell
Publication date: 1853
Length: 145 pages
Rating:

A sampling of synopses:

Elizabeth Gaskell’s portrait of kindness, compassion, and hope

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.

The women of an English country village star in this Victorian classic that inspired a BBC series, from the author of North and South.   Welcome to Cranford, where everyone knows one another and a cow wears pajamas. It’s a community built on friendship and kindness, where women hold court and most of the houses—and men—are rarely seen. Two colorful spinster sisters at the heart of Cranford, Miss Matty and Miss Deborah Jenkyns, are daughters of the former rector, and when they’re not playing cards or drinking tea, they’re feeding an endless appetite for scandal and weathering commotions to their peaceful lives, from financial troubles to thieves to an unexpected face from the past.   First published in installments in Household Words, a magazine edited by Charles Dickens, Cranford was a hit of its time and today offers modern readers a glimpse into a small English town during the mid-nineteenth century.

Cranford is a lovely snapshot of a time and place. The gentle storytelling paints a portrait of a small village dominated by the various women who rule local society. Men are largely absent or unimportant; it’s the women’s gatherings, chats, rules, and visits that create the atmosphere of this sweet read.

In the first place, Cranford is in possession of the Amazons; all the holders of houses above a certain rent are women. If a married couple come to settle in the town, somehow the gentleman disappears; he is either fairly frightened to death by being the only man in the Cranford parties, or he is accounted for by being with his regiment, his hip, or closely engaged in business all the week in the great neighbouring commercial town of Drumble, distant only twenty miles on a railroad. In short, whatever does become of the gentlemen, they are not at Cranford.

Narrated by Mary Smith, whose name we don’t actually learn until late in the book, Cranford depicts a series of events in the lives of the community. We quickly discover who sets the tone and who follows along; who is considered respectable and who is most decidedly not. Whether it’s the matter of clothing or when to burn candles, there are rules for everything, and woe to those who don’t follow the rules!

There isn’t much of a plot; rather, Cranford is a series of vignettes of the characters’ lives, covering silly events (such as a visiting magician) as well as deaths, marriages, births, and the loss of fortunes. While some characters appear to be ridiculously rule-bound, there are moments of loveliness when the various residents of Cranford come together to offer help and support, often without the recipient having any idea of how much is being done for them (so as not to damage their pride).

The writing is often quite funny:

“Mrs Forrester … sat in state, pretending not to know what cakes were sent up, though she knew, and we knew, and she knew that we knew, and we knew that she knew that we knew, she had been busy all the morning making tea-bread and sponge-cakes.”

And yet, the story includes sad moments as well — stories of lost love, estranged family members, and sudden accidents.

Overall, Cranford is a gentle read, full of humor and sharp descriptions, but it is also kind and generous, even with the more ridiculous of the characters.

I’m glad to have read this little gem. Once again, another terrific read thanks to a Classics Club Spin!