"Cranford" offers a delightful portrait of the residents of an English country town in the mid-nineteenth century. At its heart are the adventures of two middle-aged spinster sisters, Miss Matty and Miss Deborah, who strive to live with dignity despite reduced circumstances.

Through a series of vignettes, Elizabeth Gaskell portrays a community governed by old-fashioned habits and dominated by friendships between women. Her wry account of rural life is affectionately crafted, yet undercut by moments of tragedy, such as Matty's bankruptcy and the violent death of Captain Brown. The novel also explores the unwitting cruelty of Peter Jenkyns.

Written with acute observation, Cranford is by turns affectionate, moving, and darkly satirical.