The Cranford Chronicles

Elizabeth Gaskell (1810 - 1865) was a British novelist and short story writer during the Victorian era whose novels remain very popular to this day. They offer a detailed portrait of the lives of many strata of society, including the very poor, and as such are of interest to social historians as well as lovers of literature. Gaskell became popular for her novels, but also especially for her ghost stories, aided by Charles Dickens, who published her work in his magazine. In addition to her fiction, she also wrote the first biography of Charlotte Brontë, which played a significant role in developing her fellow writer's reputation. Even though her writing conforms to Victorian conventions, Gaskell usually frames her stories as criticisms of narrow-minded contemporary attitudes. She is a favorite with readers because she always emphasized the role of women, with complex narratives and dynamic female characters. This series of three novels is the perfect example of her work.