Cranford concluded last night, and I was enchanted to be drawn into the life of the residents of the quaint rural English Victorian village for a short respite. The production was beautifully created by the amiable team of Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin, whose magic we have previously enjoyed in another adaptation of Mrs. Gaskell’s novel, Wives and Daughters (1999), and the legendary Pride and Prejudice (1995). You can feel the benefit of their discerning eye for detail in the costumes and art direction, and their sensitivity in casting with their choice of a stellar lineup. It all blends effortlessly allowing for a smooth storyline and less ‘what was that’ moments that can distract and test the patience of any devotee of period dramas.
Comparisons of Austen and Gaskell are inevitable. They were both women writers who excelled at social observation; Austen with a few families in a country village, and Gaskell expanding upon Austen’s sphere into the changing society that affected her characters lives. Each of the ladies wrote in a style reflective of their times; Austen more austere and refined, Gaskell more florid and elaborative. Both authors are highly respected by scholars, admired by the public and have had thier works adapted into popuar movies and mini-series.
My knowledge of Mrs. Gaskell’s works is not as extensive as Austen, but in my small library of vintage books is a sweet little edition entitled The Austen-Gaskell Book: Scenes from the Works of Jane Austen & Mrs. Gaskell circa 1920. It is an anthology of excerpts of chapters from both of the authors novels, Austen; Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park and Gaskell; Mary Barton, North and South, Cranford and Sylvia’s Lovers. It has been edited as an introductory volume for young readers and includes a delightful introduction written by the editor J. Compton. It is a nicely written piece, touching upon the author’s lives, works and critical acclaim. Here is a short excerpt that is apt.
There are authors whose books please even more at a fifth reading than a first, and yield something new every time a reader comes to them. These are authors to live with; they help us in the business of living…Two such authors are Jane Austen and Mrs. Gaskell. They belong to the company of great English writers whom one can never know well enough.
You can read the entire essay in our new Austen opinions page. We shall be adding additional introductions from scholars, writers and Janeites from various Jane Austen novels and critical reviews as time permits which can be quite helpful to students and just darn entertaining for Janeites.
Reflecting on the Cranford mini-series, I was charmed by many performances, especially those of Judi Dench as Miss Matty and Imelda Staunton as Miss Pole. The first was a calming force among a cast of bustling spinsters, and the second was quite the opposite stiring up all sorts of agitation! Whenever Miss Pole was in a scene, there was sure to be excitement or some humor. I just loved the look on her face in the final scene when she meets Miss Matty’s long lost brother Peter. Classic! I hope everyone enjoyed the series as much as I did. It was not Austen, but still delightful entertainment.
Ah, your regular banner is back! I enjoyed the peek into spring. Yes, this series was delightful, and the ending with Miss Pole’s lovestruck look at Peter was totally satisfying.
I love that you share your special book collection. This one is especially fascinating. Though I doubt Elizabeth will ever be considered in Jane’s league, I thoroughly enjoyed this tale.
A not about Elizabeth Gaskell and her book “Wives and Daughters.” — I loved that book. Near the end I stayed up all night to finish reading it. As I turned the page to what should have been the last chapter, very anxious to reveal the conclusion to Roger and Molly, I was a little surprised at first, and them enraged later at the Editor’s note that I found: “Here the story is broken off, and it can never be finished. What promised to be a crowning work of a life is a memorial of death. A few days longer, and it would have been a triumphal column…” She died! Immediately before writing the last chapter of a story that had already been published in the Cornhill Magazine in segments, she died! Six hundred and forty four pages too late I found that I had been enjoying a book without an ending. Previously in reading “House of Mirth,” I had started with the introduction/forward, and it had been a spoiler. Since then, my preference had been to read the intro at the end of the book. While Ms. Gaskell’s death was, I am sure, mentioned in the introduction, I missed it.
A year later, however, I am thinking about a reread! Gaskell’s writing was enchanting, and the journey of Molly through the entanglements of growing up and becoming a woman of character and spirit was truly lovely. I would recommend it highly to any Janeite with one hesitation: be prepared to dream your own last chapter!
I feel compelled to reply to Amanda’s comment above. I can’t image that she was truly “enraged” at the editor’s note at the end of Elizabeth Gaskell’s “Wives and Daughters”. First of all, it was a tremendous courtesy to explain the abruptness of the novel’s end, i.e., with the tragic death of Mrs. Gaskell. Second, the editor’s note (at least in the B&N edition) does pretty well lay out where Mrs. Gaskell intended to take the novel’s ending in the next one or two serilizations in “Cornhill”. Finally, upon repeated reads of W&D, I find that no further ending is actually required. We, the readers, do know what is going to happen. It is abundantly clear how Mrs. Gaskell was going to finish it off. Maybe it is not done as neatly/tidily as some would like, but it isn’t so bad as it could have been.
This novel, in my opinion, is as close to being Austenesque as can be without being Austenesque. It is beautiful, graceful, and elegant with terrific plotting and characters. The 1999 BBC film adaptation was truly mesmerizing, and I just fell in love with Molly Gibson and Lady Harriett. Anyway, just my two-cents worth. Cheers!