Cranford

"Cranford" by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell is a story set in the middle of the 19th century in a small English town run mostly by women since the men are not present. The book is full of details about the strange traditions, rules, and relationships of the close neighborhood, and focuses on the women who live there, like the sweet Miss Matty and the lively Captain Brown, whose entrance upsets their quiet lives. "Cranford" begins by showing the reader the unusual social structure of the village, where mostly women handle things without men around, except for the occasional guest. The first chapter uses humor to describe the social manners and unspoken rules that control conversations, such as how people should visit each other and why it's better to be economical than showy. Important people like the soft-spoken Miss Matty and the appealing Captain Brown are introduced, hinting that human relationships and character growth will be further examined as the story goes on. Through the narrator's point of view, people get to see the loving quirks and unity of the Cranford group, setting the scene for the developing stories of friendship, love, and social comments that make this fascinating book special.