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Description edit
Cranford:- Gaskell’s witty and poignant comedy of country town life. A gently comic picture of life in an English country town in the mid-nineteenth century, Cranford describes the small adventures of Miss Matty and Miss Deborah, two middle-aged spinster sisters striving to live with dignity... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Miss Matty: Add a description of this character.
- Mary Smith: The narrator. A woman frequently staying with Miss Matty.
- Miss Matty Jenkyns: An amiable and good-natured (though rather timid) old spinster.
- Mr Peter
- Deborah
- Mrs Hoggins
- Miss Jessie
- Miss Deborah Jenkyns: Miss Matty's imperious older sister.
- Mr Holbrook
- Mrs Fitz-adam
- Miss Pole: Allegedly the most "reasonable" and "enlightened" of the Cranford ladies. This is my favourite character within the play as her attitude towards men is hilarous. She is the Cousin of Thomas Holbrook and dissaproves of his forwardness with women. Her nosey nature means she is never far from any unfolding incident and always seems to be aware of the local gossip.
- Mrs Jamieson: A widow with aristocratic connections and the owner of her beloved dog, Carlo. A mostly lethargic old woman.
- Mrs Forrester: Another widow.
- Dr Johnson
- Miss Barker
- Jenny
- Betty
- Mary
- Thomas
- Peggy
- Carlo
- Mrs Gordon
- Phoebe
- Jem Hearn: The slow, though well-meaning beau-turned-husband of Martha.
- Betty Barker: A former milliner, who owns a cow whom she loves like a daughter.
- Mr Boz
- Miss Matilda
- Mrs Roberts
- Sam
- Peter Jenkyns: The Jenkyns' brother.
- Thomas Holbrook: Miss Matty's admirer and a farmer.
- 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.
- 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.
- Dr. Hoggins: The Cranford surgeon. A rough but friendly and well-meaning man.
- Martha: Miss Matty's maid.
- Mr. Mulliner: Mrs. Jamieson's creepy and cowardy butler.
- Signor Brunoni: A travelling magician.
- Signora Bruoni: The wife of the travelling magician.
- Jem: Martha's boyfriend.
Quotes edit
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“She would have despised the modern idea of women being equal to men. Equal indeed! She knew they were superior.”
Mary Smith
First Sentence edit
IN the first place, Cranford is in possession of the Amazons: all the holders of houses, above a certain rent, are women.
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Penguin Classics. (publisher edition list)
This is book 37 of 101 in Penguin English Library. (publisher series)
This is book 892 of 1286 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Elizabeth Gaskell (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Chapman & Hall
Country: England
Publication Date: 1853
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 324
Publisher: Chapman & Hall
Country: England
Publication Date: 1853
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 324
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 823.8
Subjects edit
- Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › British › Classics › Gaskell, Elizabeth
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Authors, A-Z › ( G ) › Gaskell, Elizabeth
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Women's Fiction › Sisters
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Women's Fiction › Friendship
- Books › Literature & Fiction › History & Criticism › Criticism & Theory
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Classics
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Literary
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Classics
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