- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Collector's Library (April 1 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1905716494
- ISBN-13: 978-1905716494
- Product Dimensions: 15.4 x 9.6 x 2.2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 200 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #384,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
'Bathed in a poignant, dreamlike mood found nowhere else in fiction' Guardian
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Book Description
Each volume in the Collector's Library series has a specially commissioned Afterword, brief biography of the author and a further reading list. The Afterword is by leading UK playwright, novelist and Sherlockian, David Stuart Davies.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
THE QUIET PSYCHE OF VICTORIAN ANGLIA
Dec 17 2009
Format:Paperback
I bought this for my wife - but, after we both greatly enjoyed the BBC-1 miniseries, I ended up reading it myself as well. Compared to the miniseries, as expected, the book expands into more details and can be savored in many more levels.
Sometimes escapism may require an action page-turner. Other times the same effect can be achieved by a slow novel about middle-aged women and their daily troubles.
Pettiness and kindness, age and genders, nobles and lowborn, progress and tradition, all come together and weave the tapestry of rural middle England of the 1840's.
RECOMMENDED!
Sometimes escapism may require an action page-turner. Other times the same effect can be achieved by a slow novel about middle-aged women and their daily troubles.
Pettiness and kindness, age and genders, nobles and lowborn, progress and tradition, all come together and weave the tapestry of rural middle England of the 1840's.
RECOMMENDED!
What Cranford means to me
Jun 20 2008
Format:Paperback
Cranford started out not as a novel, but as a series of related stories published in Household Words, a magazine published by Charles Dickens.
Cranford is unusual because it focuses on a world where there is no room for men, and where marriage is considered more of a nuisance than a blessing. The few male characters appearing in this novel are generally regarded either with suspicion or scorn. The bulk of the novel focuses on the life of Miss Matty Jenkyns, an aging spinster who takes in a frequent guest from a nearby town: unmarried Mary, who narrates the story. Miss Matty lives in the small town of Cranford, which is full of unmarried or widowed women. If a man moves into town, he somehow disappears. These women live quite happily in each other's society and are genteel despite their uncertain finances. The novel is full of gossip and intrigues - ways for the Cranford women to spend their time since it isn't occupied by other things.
Of course, in this remarkable little world of the Cranford ladies, something eventually must happen to one of their own. Miss Matty's bank goes under, and she finds herself bankrupt, deprived of the 127 pounds per annum that she had to live on. She takes it all in stride, but the other ladies of Cranford get together to help her in a very touching way that allows Miss Matty to maintain her lifestyle.
Marriage eventually finds a place in Cranford. Miss Matty's servant marries a charming young man, and the couple is very happy. The local surgeon marries one of the ladies in town who is above his station, a scandal that is endlessly discussed among the women; but despite the couple becoming outcasts, they seem very content.
Cranford is unusual because it focuses on a world where there is no room for men, and where marriage is considered more of a nuisance than a blessing. The few male characters appearing in this novel are generally regarded either with suspicion or scorn. The bulk of the novel focuses on the life of Miss Matty Jenkyns, an aging spinster who takes in a frequent guest from a nearby town: unmarried Mary, who narrates the story. Miss Matty lives in the small town of Cranford, which is full of unmarried or widowed women. If a man moves into town, he somehow disappears. These women live quite happily in each other's society and are genteel despite their uncertain finances. The novel is full of gossip and intrigues - ways for the Cranford women to spend their time since it isn't occupied by other things.
Of course, in this remarkable little world of the Cranford ladies, something eventually must happen to one of their own. Miss Matty's bank goes under, and she finds herself bankrupt, deprived of the 127 pounds per annum that she had to live on. She takes it all in stride, but the other ladies of Cranford get together to help her in a very touching way that allows Miss Matty to maintain her lifestyle.
Marriage eventually finds a place in Cranford. Miss Matty's servant marries a charming young man, and the couple is very happy. The local surgeon marries one of the ladies in town who is above his station, a scandal that is endlessly discussed among the women; but despite the couple becoming outcasts, they seem very content.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
very entertaining
Mar 1 2001
Format:Paperback
Orginally published in Charles Dickens' magazine Household Words, _Cranford_is in fact a collection of stories about the people (mostly women)'s lives in a city called Cranford in the 19th century. It is said to be Mrs. Gaskell's most popular book, and the only book that Mrs. Gaskell herself would want to re-read again. This book is indeed full of funny, ridiculous and heartwarming stories about some old-fashioned but really friendly and kind-hearted women (mostly old maids or widows) living in this little town called Cranford. I think Mrs. Gaskell did a good job in bring up themes like the confrontation of the old and new world, the comparsion between the life in an industrial city like Drumble (believed to be based on Manchester) and the little tranquil town Cranford. If you are interested in Victorian Literature, this is one of the few relaxing novels belonging to that period that is definitely worth a reading!
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Most recent customer reviews
Lovely, hilarious book
Let me just say the cloth cover is amazing. So beautiful and it really seems like something that will hold up over multiple readings. Read more
Published on April 21 2010 by M. E. Quinn
Delightful look at village life.
If you enjoy reading period pieces that are wonderfully described, that you think you are there. You will certainly love this book. Read more
Published on Jan 29 2010 by A. Redgirl
A great read. One of my favourites.
A wonderful portrayal of British life in the country.
I loved the illustrations and though that the book was put together nicely. Read more
I loved the illustrations and though that the book was put together nicely. Read more
Published on Oct 1 2008 by Dianna Nelson
Better than the BBC series
What a great little tale of wit and humor. I loved the series, but the cliche, "the book was better than the movie," holds true for Cranford as well. Read more
Published on Jun 19 2008 by Heather
"Charming" Cranford
I read this series of village sketches as an independent study and found that it is most commonly referred to as "charming. Read more
Published on May 22 2001 by J. Leitch
Victorian women
Loosely linked stories (sometimes described as a novel) about a group of spinsters and widows living in a small English town in the first half of the nineteenth century. Read more
Published on Jan 25 2001 by D. P. Birkett
A small treasure
A sweet, gentle story of a small English town not unlike Jan Karon's Mitford, only 150 years ago. No high drama- only caring people with all their flaws. Read more
Published on July 24 2000
not if you're looking for a story
This book has been called Gaskell's greatest, something I just cannot agree with. ok, so it provides an sharp insight into the small town life of the time. Read more
Published on Dec 4 1998
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