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edwardian_girl_next_door's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is a little slice of life from a provincial English village told with a loose plot centering on the everyday events that befall its inhabitants. While very charming and funny, the book also contains profoundly sad elements -- regrets, loses, follies, and traumas that characterise the human experience. It is as lighthearted as it is serious, in its sweet Victorian way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Physical abuse and Colonisation
bel017's review against another edition
slow-paced
This reminded me of my Nanna. Holding one's head up despite poverty, meeting social norms, and being excited over a new bonnet. I know it's a satire, but it's a kind and gentle satire. At first I was worried it was going to be miserable, as there were several deaths, but they petered out and were replaced with the quiet village life that I'd been expecting. I really enjoyed the second half of the book.
I'm glad I bought the Penguin 'clothbound classic' as it comes with a lot of extra information that added context and helped me better understand the setting and content of the stories. These extras include a long intro, a final story, a glossary, extensive endnotes, letters written by Gaskell, and an essay on clothing mentioned in the stories.
I'm glad I bought the Penguin 'clothbound classic' as it comes with a lot of extra information that added context and helped me better understand the setting and content of the stories. These extras include a long intro, a final story, a glossary, extensive endnotes, letters written by Gaskell, and an essay on clothing mentioned in the stories.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
chalkletters's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Ever since I read Wives and Daughters, I’ve been saying I want to read more Elizabeth Gaskell, so when I spotted this copy of Cranford and Other Storiesat my local free bookshelf, I couldn’t resist. The ‘and other stories’ wasn’t obvious from the cover, so the inclusion of Mr Harrison’s Confessions and My Lady Ludlow came as a pleasant surprise — more Elizabeth Gaskell for me to try! Nickie promised Cranford would be “a proper stocking full of heartwarming tidbits”, perfect for cozy reading on long winter’s nights.
Jenny Uglow’s brief introduction to Cranford and Other Stories whets the appetite without spoiling the story. Female main characters in classic literature are usually either married or dead by the end of the novel, so a whole narrative about middle-aged spinsters is quite an unusual prospect. The village of Cranford is a community, a group of friends who help each other out to the best of their ability and it really is heartwarming to read about.
Miss Matty is reminiscent of Little Women’s Beth March, in that the narrator often points out her goodness, her sweetness of temper and her positive affect on others. These moments are more telling than showing, but fortunately, Miss Matty also gets the opportunity to show her personality in the way she treats others. Her lasting respect for her overbearing sister’s traditions and rules may have seemed worthy to a contemporary reader, but falls slightly flat in an age that values individuality.
This difference of attitude presents even more of a problem in My Lady Ludlow. Even given the background of the French Revolution, it’s hard to sympathise with the title character’s disdain for educating ‘the lower classes’ and her fears around servants becoming unsatisfied with their position. This was the least enjoyable of the four chapters, meandering very slowly with little actual plot.
Overall, Cranford delivered on its promise of a cozy community, Mr Harrison’s Confessions were amusing, but My Lady Ludlow rather let the collection down at the final moment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Death and Death of parent
madamenovelist's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Chronic illness, Racism, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation
There are brief racist and Christian-centric references about other races/religions but particularly “Saracens” and “Indians” and nomadic “outsiders” common in 1800s English lit. Also a fear-mongering story referencing a crossdressing thief that’s vaguely homophobic/transphobic.