Cranford (novel)
Encyclopedia
Cranford is one of the better-known novels of the 19th century English writer Elizabeth Gaskell
. It was first published in 1851 as a serial in the magazine Household Words
, which was edited by Charles Dickens
.
in Cheshire, which Mrs Gaskell knew well. The book has little in the way of plot and is more a series of episodes in the lives of Mary Smith and her friends, Miss Matty and Miss Deborah, two spinster
sisters. The "major" event in the story is the return to Cranford of their long-lost brother, Peter, which in itself is only a minor portion of the work, leaving the rest of the novel at a low-key tone.
. The first version was broadcast in 1951, the second in 1972, with Gabrielle Hamilton as Miss Matty, and the third version
in 2007. The 2007 version added material from other writings by Gaskell: My Lady Ludlow
, Mr. Harrison's Confessions
and The Last Generation in England
. Judi Dench
and Eileen Atkins
took the leading roles as Miss Matty and Miss Deborah Jenkyns, with Imelda Staunton
cast as the town's gossip, Miss Pole, and Michael Gambon
as Miss Matty's former admirer, Mr. Holbrook. The BBC sequel, Return to Cranford
, was broadcast in 2009 in the UK and 2010 in the USA.
Elizabeth Gaskell
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, née Stevenson , often referred to simply as Mrs Gaskell, was a British novelist and short story writer during the Victorian era...
. It was first published in 1851 as a serial in the magazine Household Words
Household Words
Household Words was an English weekly magazine edited by Charles Dickens in the 1850s which took its name from the line from Shakespeare "Familiar in his mouth as household words" — Henry V.-History:...
, which was edited by Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
.
Plot
The fictional town of Cranford is closely modelled on KnutsfordKnutsford
Knutsford is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in North West England...
in Cheshire, which Mrs Gaskell knew well. The book has little in the way of plot and is more a series of episodes in the lives of Mary Smith and her friends, Miss Matty and Miss Deborah, two spinster
Spinster
A spinster, or old maid, is an older, childless woman who has never been married.For a woman to be identified as a spinster, age is critical...
sisters. The "major" event in the story is the return to Cranford of their long-lost brother, Peter, which in itself is only a minor portion of the work, leaving the rest of the novel at a low-key tone.
Characters
- Mary Smith – The narrator. A woman frequently staying with Miss Matty.
- Miss Matty Jenkyns – An amiable and good-natured (though rather timid) old spinster.
- Miss Deborah Jenkyns – Miss Matty's imperious older sister. Dies early on in the novel.
- Miss Pole – Allegedly the most "reasonable" and "enlightened" of the Cranford ladies; the reader may draw his/her own conclusions.
- The Honourable Mrs Jamieson – A widow with aristocratic connections and the owner of her beloved dog, Carlo. A mostly lethargic old woman.
- Mrs Forrester – Another widow.
- Betty Barker – A former milliner, who owns a cow whom she loves like a daughter.
- Peter Jenkyns – The Jenkyns' long-lost brother, who returns from India at the end of the novel.
- Thomas Holbrook – Miss Matty's admirer and a farmer. He dies a year after his trip to Paris, France, yet his death is blamed on this trip.
- Captain Brown – A poor captain, who comes to live at Cranford with his two daughters.
- Miss Brown – Captain Brown's elder daughter.
- Miss Jessie Brown – Captain Brown's daughter. After his and her sister's deaths, she marries and leaves Cranford.
- Major Gordon – A friend of Captain Brown who has been in love with Jessie Brown for years.
- Lady Glenmire – Mrs. Jamieson's poor but aristocratic sister-in-law. Later marries Dr. Hoggins.
- Dr. Hoggins – The Cranford surgeon. A rough but friendly and well-meaning man.
- Martha – Miss Matty's maid. Later her landlady and companion at equal terms.
- Mr. Mulliner – Mrs. Jamieson's creepy and cowardy butler.
- Signor Brunoni – A travelling magician.
- Signora Brunoni – The wife of the travelling magician, who travels on foot across India to save the life of her baby daughter.
Adaptations
The novel has been thrice adapted for television by the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. The first version was broadcast in 1951, the second in 1972, with Gabrielle Hamilton as Miss Matty, and the third version
Cranford (TV series)
Cranford is a British television series directed by Simon Curtis and Steve Hudson. The teleplay by Heidi Thomas was adapted from three novellas by Elizabeth Gaskell published between 1849 and 1858: Cranford, My Lady Ludlow, and Mr Harrison's Confessions...
in 2007. The 2007 version added material from other writings by Gaskell: My Lady Ludlow
My Lady Ludlow
My Lady Ludlow is a long novella by Elizabeth Gaskell. It appeared in the magazine Household Words in 1858, and was republished in Round the Sofa in 1859, with framing passages added at the start and end.It recounts the daily lives of the widowed Countess of Ludlow of Hanbury and the spinster Miss...
, Mr. Harrison's Confessions
Mr. Harrison's Confessions
Mr. Harrison’s Confessions is an episodic 1851 long short story or novella by Elizabeth Gaskell about a doctor in provincial England. It is notable for being a 'prequel' to her novel Cranford. With Cranford, The Last Generation in England and My Lady Ludlow, it was adapted for TV in 2007 as...
and The Last Generation in England
The Last Generation in England
The Last Generation in England is a non-fiction article by Elizabeth Gaskell, published in the American Sartain's Union Magazine in July 1849, relating memories of a small country town in the generation prior to her own. As such, it is seen as the real-life background for her novel Cranford...
. Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
and Eileen Atkins
Eileen Atkins
Dame Eileen June Atkins, DBE is an English actress and occasional screenwriter.- Early life :Atkins was born in the Mothers' Hospital in Clapton, a Salvation Army women's hostel in East London...
took the leading roles as Miss Matty and Miss Deborah Jenkyns, with Imelda Staunton
Imelda Staunton
Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton, OBE is an English actress. She is perhaps best known for her performances in the British comedy television series Up the Garden Path, the Harry Potter film series and Vera Drake...
cast as the town's gossip, Miss Pole, and Michael Gambon
Michael Gambon
Sir Michael John Gambon, CBE is an Irish actor who has worked in theatre, television and film. A highly respected theatre actor, Gambon is recognised for his roles as Philip Marlowe in the BBC television serial The Singing Detective, as Jules Maigret in the 1990s ITV serial Maigret, and as...
as Miss Matty's former admirer, Mr. Holbrook. The BBC sequel, Return to Cranford
Return to Cranford
Return to Cranford is the two-part second season of a British television series directed by Simon Curtis. The teleplay by Heidi Thomas was based on material from two novellas and a short story by Elizabeth Gaskell published between 1849 and 1863: Cranford, The Moorland Cottage and The Cage at...
, was broadcast in 2009 in the UK and 2010 in the USA.
External links
- The 2008 release of Cranford by AD Classic Books includes artwork by George Du Maurier, commissioned by Smith, Elder & Co. in 1864, and artwork by Hugh Thomson for Macmillan and Co. in 1891.