Cranford
by Elizabeth Gaskell
A portrait of the inhabitants of an English country town in the mid-nineteenth century, Cranford tells the adventures of Mrs. Matty and Mrs. Deborah, two middle-aged spinster sisters who try to live in dignity in limited circumstances. Elizabeth Gaskell, through a series of vignettes, depicts a community driven by old-fashioned habits and dominated by friendships between women. However, his horrific narrative about rural life is undermined by the tragedy in his portrayal of disturbing events such as Matty's bankruptcy, the violent death of Captain Brown, or the involuntary cruelty of Peter Jenkins. Written with keen observation, Cranford alternately is compassionate, touching, and ruthlessly satirical.
