megustaleer
25th November 2007, 02:56 PM
This book sat on my bookshelf for years, and I am so grateful to the BBC's serialisation for prompting me to read it at last.
Originally published in parts for Dicken's Household Worlds it describes the personalities and doings of a small market town through the eyes of Mary Smith, a one-time resident and frequent visitor.
The social elite of the town are a group of middle aged women. Men are few, being either dead or away on business, so that any that do make an appearance are subject to much interest and speculation. Cranford and its inhabitants are a bit behind the times, genteel and, if a little censorious, well-meaning and kindly.
Mary's anecdotes of the small concerns of the main characters (Miss Jenkyns, Miss Matty, Miss Pole) and their friends and acquaintances are mainly amusing, and sometimes downright funny, so that when the occasional disaster or small tragedy occurs the contrast is quite moving.
There is a huge coincidence, so loved of many Victorian writers, which helps bring a satisfactory conclusion to the story. It is a convention I enjoy quite as much as the original readers, and it in no way spoils a story from this period for me.
Cranford has been one of the most enjoyable books I have read this year.
Originally published in parts for Dicken's Household Worlds it describes the personalities and doings of a small market town through the eyes of Mary Smith, a one-time resident and frequent visitor.
The social elite of the town are a group of middle aged women. Men are few, being either dead or away on business, so that any that do make an appearance are subject to much interest and speculation. Cranford and its inhabitants are a bit behind the times, genteel and, if a little censorious, well-meaning and kindly.
Mary's anecdotes of the small concerns of the main characters (Miss Jenkyns, Miss Matty, Miss Pole) and their friends and acquaintances are mainly amusing, and sometimes downright funny, so that when the occasional disaster or small tragedy occurs the contrast is quite moving.
There is a huge coincidence, so loved of many Victorian writers, which helps bring a satisfactory conclusion to the story. It is a convention I enjoy quite as much as the original readers, and it in no way spoils a story from this period for me.
Cranford has been one of the most enjoyable books I have read this year.