In the small village of Cranford, some twenty miles from the bustling industrial city of Drumble, the lives of the town’s eccentric, endearing characters are revealed in a tapestry of intimate vignettes that reveal the social intricacies of nineteenth-century English society. With humor, heart, and wit, Elizabeth Gaskell imagines a world populated by a loyal circle of female friends whose idiosyncrasies and camaraderie form the fabric of this captivating narrative. As the industrial revolution impacts the town and societal norms evolve, Cranford faces both external and internal changes. The gentle Miss Matty Jenkyns and her fellow Cranfordians navigate the challenges of their shifting landscape with grace and tenacity, providing a heartwarming and insightful glimpse into the lives of ordinary people in an extraordinary setting. The saga of their tribulations and joys is a must-read for all fans of the work of Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters. Cranford is not just the story of a place; it’s a celebration of community and the enduring power of human connections.
This Warbler Classics edition includes an essay about the subtly subversive nature of Cranford-a pioneering novel in its time-and a detailed biographical timeline.
Table of Content
Contents
Chapter I. Our Society1
Chapter II. The Captain9
Chapter III. A Love Affair of Long Ago20
Chapter IV. A Visit to an Old Bachelor27
Chapter V. Old Letters36
Chapter VI. Poor Peter44
Chapter VII. Visiting53
Chapter VIII. ‘Your Ladyship’61
Chapter IX. Signor Brunoni71
Chapter X. The Panic78
Chapter XI. Samuel Brown89
Chapter XII. Engaged to Be Married98
Chapter XIII. Stopped Payment104
Chapter XIV. Friends in Need112
Chapter XV. A Happy Return125
Chapter XVI. Peace to Cranford134
A Woman’s Text in the Wild Zone: The Subversiveness of Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford by Helen Kuryllo140
Biographical Timeline148
About the author
Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) was an English writer of novels, short stories, and poetry. Gaskell’s social conscience and firsthand experiences of the working-class struggles deeply influenced her writing. Her debut novel, Mary Barton (1848), brought her literary acclaim. Gaskell’s subsequent novels, including Cranford (1853) and North and South (1855) further solidified her reputation as a masterful chronicler of social issues and human relationships.
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