Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
Elizabeth Gaskell(1810-1865) was a nineteenth century novelist and short story writer whose works were popular at the time but are now largely forgotten. I, at any rate had not heard of Elizabeth Gaskell until assigned Cranford by 1001 books. It was published serially in 1851 in the magazine Household Words, which was edited by Charles Dickens, an acquaintance of Gaskell's who also apparently advised her in her writing. Despite such distinguished tutelage, the writing in Cranford is undistinguished throughout. Taking this book as representative, my impression of Gaskell is of a second-rate novelist whose works, though mildly amusing and not boring, one need feel no particular urgency to read.
Cranford tells of the social life of a group of middle-aged women, mostly spinsters and widows, in the small village of Cranford. None are rich, but all are moderately well-off, and they concern themselves with visiting, deciding what to wear and noting what others wear, gossiping, maintaining appearances, and observing class distinctions. Now and then Gaskell attempts forays into irony or humor, but it seems heavy-handed. She displays none of the subtlety, wit, or comic gift of Austen, Dickens, or Thackeray.
The central character, Mattie Jenkyns is a timid, good-hearted, eccentric, generous old maid in her 50's. She was in love once, but refused marriage under pressure from her father and older sister, who considered the match beneath her. She cares for her older sister, who dies early in the book, and then spends her time sharing gossip, visiting and being visited, playing cards, worrying about whom it is appropriate to acknowledge as an acquaintance, whether her maid should be allowed to have a boy friend, what color silk to choose for a new gown. At the end of the book, facing financial ruin (the failure of the bank where all her capital is invested), she is saved by the return from India of her long-lost brother, Peter. This all seems a bit of a stretch (but we have been amply prepared: enough hints have been dropped along the way to make Peter's appearance entirely unsurprising). I regard Cranford as pleasant light entertainment, a nice enough way to spend a few idle hours on a winter evening (it is not long). But you needn't put it high on your list.
Cranford tells of the social life of a group of middle-aged women, mostly spinsters and widows, in the small village of Cranford. None are rich, but all are moderately well-off, and they concern themselves with visiting, deciding what to wear and noting what others wear, gossiping, maintaining appearances, and observing class distinctions. Now and then Gaskell attempts forays into irony or humor, but it seems heavy-handed. She displays none of the subtlety, wit, or comic gift of Austen, Dickens, or Thackeray.
The central character, Mattie Jenkyns is a timid, good-hearted, eccentric, generous old maid in her 50's. She was in love once, but refused marriage under pressure from her father and older sister, who considered the match beneath her. She cares for her older sister, who dies early in the book, and then spends her time sharing gossip, visiting and being visited, playing cards, worrying about whom it is appropriate to acknowledge as an acquaintance, whether her maid should be allowed to have a boy friend, what color silk to choose for a new gown. At the end of the book, facing financial ruin (the failure of the bank where all her capital is invested), she is saved by the return from India of her long-lost brother, Peter. This all seems a bit of a stretch (but we have been amply prepared: enough hints have been dropped along the way to make Peter's appearance entirely unsurprising). I regard Cranford as pleasant light entertainment, a nice enough way to spend a few idle hours on a winter evening (it is not long). But you needn't put it high on your list.