Cranford

By: Elizabeth Gaskell

Narrated by: Nadia May

Elizabeth Gaskell's comic portrait of early Victorian life in a country town describes with poignant wit the uneventful lives of its lady-like inhabitants, offering an ironic commentary on the separate spheres and diverse experiences of men and women. As the external world necessarily impinges even on Cranford, the unlikely juxtapositions of old and new brought about by the pace of change are also explored: the effects of Victorian commerce and imperial expansion co-exist with the survival of customs and habits of thought from much earlier times.

This critically up-to-date edition includes Gaskell's essay "The Last Generation in England", containing reminiscences of her childhood in Knutsford, and the comic story "The Cage at Cranford", as well as a lucid new introduction that discusses the originality and subtlety of Gaskell's portrayal of women's experience.

(P)2002 Blackstone Audiobooks

Cranford

I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy this book as much as I have other books by this author. There are some funny statements threaded through the book but I had difficulty holding onto the plot, if there was one.

Elizabeth Gaskell + Nadia May= Great Entertainment

Would you listen to Cranford again? Why?

Yes, it rocks! It is so funny and witty!

What other book might you compare Cranford to and why?

Anything by Elizabeth Gaskell or Jane Austen

Which scene was your favorite?

Spooky walk at night

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES

Any additional comments?

Love it and love Audible!

Delightful

Such a comfortable book.It was very sweet with endearing characters. It felt like a visit with friends and a nice cup of tea.

Sweet Slice-of- Life Story

If you're looking for a quick -paced page turner, this is not it. However, this is a sweet story telling of the everyday life in a very small town. I found it very endearing, with little parts that made me laugh and other parts that made me sigh. The narrator does a good job portraying the different characters. You will be touched by this glimpse into the life of Miss Maddie and her fellow townspeople.

Very pleasant book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The narrator did a wonderful job with the different voices.

What other book might you compare Cranford to and why?

It reminds me a bit of "At Home in Mitford" because it takes you to a little village where you really end up wanting to move because you fall so in love with the people there.

Which scene was your favorite?

If I told of my favorite scene, it would be a spoiler. So I'll just say it was in the second to last chapter.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not extreme. But it's definitely a feel-good story. It left me happy.

Lovely, gentle satire

I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I thought it would pleasant, but I found myself getting gladly carried away by the sweet, peculiar ladies of Cranford.

Gaskell's book is part loving tribute and part satire of the last bastions of a fading way of life. It is a celebration of friendship, with gentle pokes at their clinging to a Victorian etiquette. It is by turns poignant, funny and heartwarming.

This was originally published as magazine episodes, so there is no linear plot, but rather a series of related stories.

The narrator was excellent.

Lovely Story.

Women run Cranford's society on different levels but they are all of one community.
I love these stories about old English villages & society.
Different generations of these ladies & their lives all come together in this sweet narrative which draws you right into their company.
The narrator is wonderful & captured each character to a "tee".

Brilliantly read

Wonderful delivery of the charming story. Hours of pleasure that do not pale - worth every penny, you will laugh and cry over the inhabitants of Cranford.

Not the strongest storyline

While I enjoyed this book it was tedious at times. It is and old book and the manner of story is not like modern books. The performance of the reading was excellent and this helped get things back on track.

Wistfully Charming Story

Elizabeth Gaskell came to my attention through Jane Austen's novels. While her writing style is more loquacious than Austen's, Gaskell's gentle sentimentality, reflected through her character Mattie's hopes and disappointments for love and marriage, made the novel more memorable than many of Austen's novels whose heroines always get the most honorable guy of flawless character. Gaskell is more realistic yet created characters who are endearing. Both writers use satire and Austen has more precise and succinct prose, but Gaskell demonstrated human frailty and how friends, companions and the community, in spite of irksomeness, make life tolerable through unspoken kindness and understanding.