Cranford

By: Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

Narrated by: Davina Porter

This classic novel has been thrice adapted for the screen by the BBC. Mary Smith relates the story of her time with middle-aged spinster sisters Miss Matty and Miss Deborah. Witty, poignant, and often ironic, Cranford is the tale of what these two women will do to remain respectable, proper, and kind with only moderate means.©2008 Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"... an extremely clever piece of writing." ( Guardian (UK))

Pulled at my heart strings!

At first the book itself was a bit of a scramble. I couldn’t tell who was whom, and there were so many characters. Not to mention multiple ways of referring to each one, but overall it ended up being a great story. A few tears flowed and feelings were had. It got me! It pulled at my heart strings.

A lost age

My Grandparents were born during the reign of Queen Victoria in Derbyshire. "Cranford" so reminded me of Butterton, a village in Derbyshire where relatives of both Grannie and Grandpa live to this day. I found it a charming, humorous and sensitively written work. It has made me go back to my other favorites from the Georgian and Victorian eras.

A Lovely Relaxing Listen

My first experience with Cranford was the version filmed for Masterpiece Theater. I had been looking for an audible version and this is it! Davina Porter does her usual wonderful job of characterization and brings to life the charming characters of a special place known as Cranford. The story is humorous and heartbreaking. Author Elizabeth Gaskell does not make life perfect for everyone. The world of Cranford is real and pulls you in with every word. If you enjoy the novels of Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and E.M. Forster, I guarantee that you will enjoy this!

Very easy to listen to.

A very sweet novel, very calming and relaxing to listen to. Davina Porter is lovely as always.

Another Favorite Place

Would you consider the audio edition of Cranford to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the book but love hearing it read. I always love hearing an English accent.

What other book might you compare Cranford to and why?

Miss Read's "Thrush Green", Jan Karon's "Mitford" come to mind as they are small town settings and have quirky, loveable characters.

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

I love her voice quality - soothing and her inflection really brings out the meaning and emotion behind the words. Next to Gwen Watford narrating the Thrush Green books and Juliet Mills in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, she is my next favorite narrator.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Ladies Rule

Any additional comments?

I am so pleased with this purchase. I'll be listening to this again and again. Well, worth the money.