Cranford is an episodic novel written by English author Elizabeth Gaskell. It was first published in parts in the magazine Household Words and later released as a book with the same title in 1853, with small changes. Over time, the book became popular. Beginning in the 20th century, it was adapted for the stage, radio, and television.

Background

The fictional town of Cranford is inspired by the small town of Knutsford in Cheshire, where Elizabeth Gaskell lived as a child. She used memories from her childhood in an article titled "The Last Generation in England" (1849) and in a longer story called "Mr. Harrison's Confessions" (1851), which featured a town named Duncombe. These stories described life in a small country town and the old-fashioned social differences between classes. These ideas were later used in a short story called "Our Society in Cranford," published in the magazine Household Words in December 1851. The magazine's editor, Charles Dickens, saw the potential for a longer story and encouraged Gaskell to write more parts.

Over the next 18 months, Gaskell added seven more sections to the story. There was an eight-month break between the parts ending at what is now chapter 8 (written between December 1851 and April 1852) and the later sections (written between January and May 1853). During this time, she also worked on a three-volume novel called Ruth, which was published in January 1853. Cranford was later published as a book by Chapman & Hall in June 1853, with a second printing in August and a U.S. edition that same month. A third printing in the UK followed in 1855, and the book was translated into French in 1856 and German in 1867. At first, the book was not widely discussed in Britain, but it became more popular in the 1890s.

One reason for the book’s growing popularity was the release of cheaper, illustrated editions by publishers. The first illustrated version of Cranford was published by Smith, Elder & Co in 1864, with illustrations by George du Maurier, who showed scenes as they were in the present time. In 1891, Hugh Thomson’s illustrations focused more on how Cranford looked during the early 1800s, as Gaskell remembered. The style of the illustrations changed, too: du Maurier’s drawings showed people’s feelings and difficult situations with care, while Thomson’s focused more on humor and emotional moments. This shift in style influenced other illustrators for many years.

Structure

The book does not follow a traditional story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Instead, as The Athenaeum described it, it is a collection of short scenes that show people and traditions that were becoming outdated. The characters’ repeated appearances create a sense of unity, even though the story is not told in a straight line. The story moves back and forth in time, with past memories explaining events in the present. The narrator, Mary Smith, keeps the reader at a distance by sharing the perspective of a young woman from a different background who simply reports what she sees. As the daughter of a businessman in Manchester (called Drumble in the novel), she only visits Cranford occasionally, which explains why the story is told in separate, episodic parts.

After marrying, Mrs. Gaskell lived in Manchester. The differences between a small town and a busy city are not only about where they are located but also about the time period. Many details in the story, such as the tale of a cow dressed in flannel, are based on real events from years earlier. In a letter to John Ruskin, Mrs. Gaskell said she included only some of the facts she knew, to avoid being seen as exaggerating. The book shows how class differences in society are changing, especially in a town that is slower to adapt to new economic changes than the growing railway system.

According to Jenny Uglow, the novel shows how society changed from one where social rank was the main rule for behavior to one that focuses more on helping individuals. Over time, small groups of people begin to include those who were once excluded because of class. The women who once believed their strict values protected society’s gentility come to understand that kindness and caring for others are better ways to support one another.

Synopsis

The stories set in Cranford were first published in eight different parts. The first part, titled Our Society in Cranford, includes the first two chapters of the novel. It describes a group of women, mostly widows or older unmarried women, who live modestly but hide their difficult situation by calling it "elegant economy." They visit each other’s homes following strict rules managed by those with the highest social standing. The arrival of Captain Brown, a retired soldier now working on the railway, upsets their quiet lives by casually discussing topics that are usually avoided. After gaining their respect through his kindness and honesty, he dies while saving a child from a train. His sickly older daughter soon passes away, allowing Jessie Brown to marry an old military friend.

A Love Affair at Cranford (chapters 3–4) begins after the death of Miss Jenkyns, the older sister of Matty. Matty becomes nervous when she must host a visit from her cousin, Major Jenkyns. Martha is hired as a new servant, trained by Mary Smith. Later, Martha and Mary meet Mr. Holbrook in town. Matty recalls how she was prevented from marrying Mr. Holbrook when she was younger because of her family’s lower social standing. She later accepts an invitation to dinner at his home. Soon after, Mr. Holbrook travels to Paris and dies upon returning home, leading Matty to mourn him.

Memory at Cranford (chapters 5–6) includes the reading of old family letters, which tell the story of Matty’s parents. Matty remembers her close relationship with her brother Peter and how a mischievous act angered their father so much that he punished Peter publicly. Peter then ran away from home and was last heard of joining the military to fight in India.

Visiting at Cranford (chapters 7–8) starts with Betty Barker inviting the Cranford women to tea. During the event, they break the usual social rules but are forgiven after drinking cherry brandy. Mrs. Jamieson announces that her brother’s widow, Lady Glenmire, will be staying in town. Tension arises from Mrs. Jamieson’s pride about her connection to Lady Glenmire, but this is eased when Lady Glenmire proves to be friendly and approachable at a party held in her honor.

The Great Cranford Panic (chapters 9–11) describes the arrival of a mysterious man named Signor Brunoni, who performs a magic show. Later, rumors link him to a series of thefts that frighten the women. Signor Brunoni is later found ill in a hotel and revealed to be a former soldier named Samuel Brown. His wife then shares their time in India, explaining how a kind Englishman named Jenkyns helped nurse their daughter to health. Mary Smith wonders if this man might have been Matty’s lost brother and decides to investigate.

Stopped Payment at Cranford (chapters 12–13) involves Mr. Hoggins caring for Signor Brunoni, during which Lady Glenmire meets him and becomes engaged. While shopping, Matty hears rumors that her bank may stop paying its notes. As an investor, she insists on paying for a customer’s purchase in coins. The next day, the bank’s bankruptcy is confirmed.

Friends in Need (chapter 14) describes how Matty will soon be without money and can no longer afford a maid. Martha refuses to leave and instead proposes marrying Jem Hearn and taking Matty in as a lodger. Miss Pole organizes a meeting where the women agree to give up some of their income to support Matty. They also arrange for Mary’s father to pretend that the money is a return on her investments.

A Happy Return to Cranford (chapters 15–16) begins after Matty successfully sells her belongings. Her home is then taken over by Jem and Martha. At Mary’s suggestion, Matty uses the parlor to sell tea. This arrangement does not last long, as Peter arrives after Mary contacts him. Peter, now wealthy from working as a planter in India, ensures Matty remains respected by the women as a peacekeeper and storyteller.

Characters

• Mary Smith – The narrator, a person who often visits the Jenkyns family and Miss Pole.
• Miss Deborah Jenkyns – The controlling older daughter of the former rector.
• Miss Matty Jenkyns – The younger daughter of the rector.
• Peter Jenkyns – The son of the family, who left home and later moved to India.
• Miss Pole – A person known for sharing news in town and a friend of Miss Matty.
• The Honourable Mrs Jamieson – A woman who is the daughter of a governor and the widowed daughter-in-law of a baron; she is seen as the leader of Cranford’s social group.
• Mrs Forrester – A widow who, as the daughter of an officer and the wife of a major, is welcomed into Cranford’s social group.
• Miss Fitz-Adam – The sister of Mr Hoggins, a wealthy widow who is considered less important socially by Mrs Jamieson.
• Lady Glenmire – Mrs Jamieson’s widowed sister-in-law, who does not share her social biases.
• Betty Barker – A former hat maker for wealthy people, who once worked as a maid for Mrs Jamieson.
• Captain Brown – A retired army captain who lives in Cranford with his two daughters.
• Thomas Holbrook – Miss Pole’s cousin, a successful farmer who once proposed to Miss Matty.
• Dr Hoggins – The doctor of Cranford, whose social standing is unclear and who is treated unfairly because of his common surname.
• Mr Smith – A wealthy businessman from Drumble and Mary’s father.
• Martha – Miss Matty’s loyal servant.
• Jem Hearn – A woodworker and Martha’s future husband.
• Mr Mulliner – Mrs Jamieson’s servant who manages the household.
• Signor Brunoni – The stage name of a traveling magician who was once a soldier.
• Signora Brunoni – His wife, who traveled with him when his army unit was sent to India.

Sequels and adaptations

Elizabeth Gaskell continued to write about Knutsford after publishing Cranford. Thomas Higgins, an 18th-century highwayman who once lived in Knutsford, became the subject of a story titled "The Squire’s Story," which was published in the Christmas 1853 issue of Household Words. However, the story was set in a fictional town called Barford in Derbyshire. Later, Gaskell wrote another humorous story about the arrival of the hoop skirt, titled "The Cage at Cranford," which was published in All the Year Round in November 1863.

Theatrical adaptations of Cranford began at the start of the 20th century, with the first plays produced in the United States. These included Cranford Dames, a five-scene play by Alice Byington (New York, 1900), and Cranford: A Play, a three-act comedy by Marguerite Merington set during the time of King William IV (New York, 1905). Later British adaptations included short dramatic scenes, such as "The Bank Breaks" by Arthur Phosphor Mallam (1912), based on chapters 13–15 of Cranford; "A Cranford Card Party" by Guy Pertwee (1913); "Followers," a Cranford sketch by Harry Brighouse (1915); and "The Panic from Cranford" by Amy M. Robertson (1930), based on chapter 10. In 1930, a play for boys titled Higgins, the Highwayman of Cranford by Ronald Gow was also produced.

In the United States, Cranford was adapted for radio by NBC in 1946. Martyn Coleman’s three-act play, first performed in 1951, was later adapted for British television. In 1972, the BBC broadcast a four-part television adaptation of the novel. A British musical based on Cranford was staged in 1975 and broadcast by Thames Television in 1976.

In 2007, a five-part television series titled Cranford combined the novel with three other works by Gaskell: My Lady Ludlow, Mr. Harrison’s Confessions, and The Last Generation in England. A sequel titled Return to Cranford was broadcast in the UK in 2009 and in the United States in 2010.