Words of a Bibliophile

I thought this was a solid three-star material at first but I enjoyed this little book more than I thought I would, so four stars it is. Although there are certain story lines and themes carried throughout the novel, it moves from one topic to another in each chapter in a slice-of-life manner and might not seem very engrossing for readers looking for a clear driving plot. Yet I was charmed by the portrayal of the ladies who dominate the genteel society in the small English rural town of Cranford in the 19th century.

The novel focuses on those in the margins of gentility: the unmarried women and widows who are related to the aristocracy, the land-owning elite, or people with respectable professions. These old ladies are thus able to call themselves genteel, yet they're not very affluent and actually live on moderate or limited incomes (Austen also wrote about this particular social group). The Cranford ladies may appear a bit self-important at times—one character in particular is truly arrogant—with how much emphasis they put on their gentility and what they consider vulgar and inappropriate.

The strict social codes of their rank provide many comical moments which entertained me—my favorite is Miss Matty's problem with oranges—but there is also an undercurrent of sadness within the novel with glimpses of missed opportunities and past mistakes in their bygone youth. But ultimately what matter to these women are benevolence and compassion to others and among themselves. Although there is a downside in the xenophobia exhibited in some of the chapters, the characters generally prove themselves able to become more open-minded and to let kindness and good will reign over rank and social status.