Cranford

Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

Jan 1867 · B. Tauchnitz

Ratings and reviews

I purchased this book because of it's cool cover, not realizing it had been made into a series on PBS. Unfamiliar with the work of Elizabeth Gaskell, a contemporary of Charles Dickens, this truly was the edition to purchase. Not only does the book contain a timeline of Gaskell's life, but an extensive introduction, notes on the text and further reading. The Appendices are fun too, providing additional writings after the publication, and a guide to life during the time the book was written, including a description of hats which are discussed a lot in the book. While the stories about Canford are a bit melodramatic, Ms. Gaskell's writing style is very humorous and a joy to read. A very in-depth description of life for English women of a certain class in the mid-19th Century.

Lovely reading! A little like Jane Austen in so far as the observations of society and the like. A lot like Louisa May Alcott as you can sense the love of the characters even if the descriptions are given by a second party. Thoroughly enjoyed the recent adaptation on PBS with Judi Dench and a stellar cast!