I saw the BBC series of Cranford when it aired on ABC TV a little while ago, and loved it. 
I bought the DVD, but will leave it for a little while before watching it again. No such restraint applies to the book though! I decided to read it for the 1% Well Read Challenge 2009 (it’s included in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die) because I’ve left it rather late to finish this challenge and Cranford didn’t seem very long at 175 pages…
What a pleasure it is to read these stories, and what a rarity it is to find that pleasure enhanced by having seen the tales brought to life on film! It is impossible to read Cranford without seeing Judi Dench as Miss Matty, sobbing quietly over the faded letters of her parents, her tears running down the ‘well-worn furrows of her cheeks’. It is heart-rending to see her poor old heart a-flutter over an invitation to visit Mr Holbrook, and her suppressed grief over the tragedy which ensues. (I write ‘her poor old heart’ though she was only 52, now no age at all, but designated an old lady by the times in which Elizabeth Gaskell wrote). Mr Holbrook had asked for her hand when she was in her youth but was not thought good enough for the daughter of a rector who had once had a sermon published. As a window on another time, when social mores restricted the happiness of so many, Cranford is a gentle rival for the preoccupations which have rightly made the novels of Jane Austen the favourite classics of our time.
The TV series was a faithful reproduction, but what it could not quite capture was the voice of the narrator, Miss Matty’s friend Mary Smith. Her wry observations about the genteel economies and eccentricities of the Cranford ladies are kindly meant; she understands why Miss Matty is frugal with her candles. Mary’s droll commentary on the spat about Dr Johnson and Dickens is a cunning way for Gaskell to depict the foolish proprieties which blind Miss Deborah to Captain Brown’s good qualities – but Mary also recognises the extent to which Miss Matty depends on Miss Deborah and the affection between them. Her observations make it clear, albeit with gentle humour, that the privations of Miss Matty’s life are not just material and emotional. Education has been denied to the rector’s daughter too: her spelling is poor and there is no prospect of overcoming her financial embarrassment by teaching because mathematics and geography are beyond her. Mary’s apparent detachment vanishes when she thinks she can locate Miss Matty’s long-lost brother, and more so when the old lady’s scanty income vanishes into a failed bank; Mary is not just interested in caps, gowns and card games – she has initiative, perspicacity and a genuine affection for Miss Matty.
There are short stories in this collection too: Mr Harrison’s Confessions; The Doom of the Griffiths; Lois the Witch; Curious if True; Six Weeks at Heppenheim; and Cousin Phillis. I haven’t read them yet – I’m reserving them for another day.
Author: Elizabeth Gaskell
Title: Cranford and Selected Short Stories (Wordsworth Classics)
Publisher: Wordsworth Classics, 2006
ISBN:9781840224511
Source: Personal Library, $6.95.
ANZ LitLovers LitBlog 
Like yourself Lisa, I loved the BBC adaption of this, which I haven’t read.
I have a copy which I’m saving to read over Christmas, as it seems like the perfect cozy read. I’m glad to see you enjoyed it!
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By: Sarah on November 25, 2009
at 6:01 am
So far I’ve read “Cranford” and “North and South”; both were excellent. Elizabeth Gaskell is a fine writer.
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By: anokatony on November 25, 2009
at 12:50 pm
I’ve listened to Ruth as well, as an audio book – but that was a bit pious for my taste.
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By: Lisa Hill on November 25, 2009
at 9:04 pm
Oh, I loved this novel when I read it back in my late teens. My mum introduced it to me when I fell in love with Jane Austen. I’ve also read North and South (a great book and miniseries), Wives and Daughters (book and miniseries), and Ruth. Next up, when I can fit it in is Mary Barton. Cranford is a little different from the rest of these which are far more focused on the reformist zeal I think. I agree re Ruth – it is more fully imbued with Gaskell’s religious fervour than her others – but it still makes an important point about women’s lot doesn’t it!
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By: whisperinggums on November 26, 2009
at 8:13 am
It’s amazing that these wonderful books are now available for such cheap prices!
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By: Lisa Hill on November 26, 2009
at 5:30 pm
It is isn’t it? Being out of copyright can make a huge difference – and yet, authors seem to get such a small cut one wonders why there can be such a differential in price??
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By: whisperinggums on November 26, 2009
at 7:10 pm
BTW When I see my name here it does not appear as a link I can click on. Is that just because I’m me and everyone else does see it as a link? Or is there a bug? I’m sure it appears as a link on other sites?? But maybe not?
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By: whisperinggums on November 26, 2009
at 7:13 pm
Re the link: on the dashboard, I had a look at the most recent comments that don’t show your blog name as a link and it’s because although your name and email are in the boxes, there’s nothing entered there for the URL. As you can see above, I’ve added it your most recent comment but not to the others, and now it’s showing as a link for the last comment. There may be a number of reasons for this…Do you remember if you commented using WordPress reply through email? Or, if you made the comment directly onto the blog, did you enter the URL?
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By: Lisa Hill on November 26, 2009
at 7:34 pm
Thanks Lisa, I don’t think I replied via email. There’s no place here in the response section, as there is on some blogs (maybe typepad?), that lets me enter my URL. Under Leave a response it says “Logged in as whisperinggums” and my name is a link. Let’s see if this ends up as a link when I post it.
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By: whisperinggums on November 26, 2009
at 8:39 pm
Nope! So, the Logged in as shows my link but the posted comment doesn’t. I shall do a little research and see what I can find.
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By: whisperinggums on November 26, 2009
at 8:40 pm
I think I’ve fixed it … this is a test comment (hope you don’t mind!)
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By: whisperinggums on November 26, 2009
at 9:02 pm
Ah, it’s worked. Thanks for your patience Lisa!
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By: whisperinggums on November 26, 2009
at 9:02 pm
[…] 1. Wittgenstein&# x2019;s Nephew (Ms. SP) 2. kpss 3. Lisa Hill 4. Vivienne (Serendipidy) 5. The Sun Also Rises (Lisa Hill) 6. A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (Musings) 7. Junky (Ms. SP) 8. Cranford (Lisa Hill) […]
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By: November/December 2009 Reviews : 1% Well-Read Challenge on February 5, 2011
at 3:50 pm