CRANFORD: Chapters Thirteen through Sixteen, The Novel as a Whole

[Melissa_W Moderator]

Please use this thread for discussion of Chapters Thirteen through Sixteen of Cranford, as well as the novel in its entirety.  Please note, this is a SPOILER FRIENDLY thread.

[chadadanielleKR]

I've just finished the book and I have discovered that my book contains another story called "Cousin Philis". I will certainly read it soon.

As for the last chapter, it is rather ironic that it is a man who restores peace among the inhabitants of Cranford. Thus, a goodwill man can be useful after all!

[dulcinea3]

That is a really interesting point, Danielle!  You're right - it is a man who puts everything right: Miss Matty's financial situation, the feud between Mrs. Jamieson and the Hoggins', etc.

My own edition has an essay called 'The Last Generation in England' or something like that, and a further Cranford story that Gaskell wrote for a Dickens publication called 'The Cage at Cranford'.  A story in the sequel miniseries, Return to Cranford, is based on this story.  I read it last night after I finished the novel.  Quite funny!  And, now that I think of it, Peter smooths over ruffled feelings at the end of that, too.

[Melissa_W Moderator]

It's been a crazy week for me, topped off by bingeing on Royal Wedding pictures via the Internet (in no way was I getting up that early for the coverage but from the pictures I think it was lovely).  Thanks to everyone, especially Pepper, Dulcie, and Danielle for chiming in on the Cranford ladies.

A few parting thoughts about Cranford:

I thought it was quite sad, although very realistic, that Miss Matty was ruined in a bank failure.  Then everyone tries to help her out - from Martha and Jem (poor guy, I think he got a little blindsided) to Miss Pole and Mary. 

Speaking of Miss Matty and Royal Weddings, given Miss Matty's obsession with having a sea-green turban, what do you think she would have made of some of the hats and fascinators at Kate and Will's wedding?  Do you think she would have wanted one like Princess Beatrice (which, IMO, looked like the Kraken was going to devour her head)?

[dulcinea3]

I haven't seen the wedding yet, and I'll be watching the figure skating world championships as soon as I get home tonight, so I hope that eventually I'll be able to catch some of the coverage!

I still am going to try to post more about Cranford.  I managed to find the reading time; it's the participating time I've had trouble with the past couple of weeks.  If only this site weren't so slow!  I use up all my lunch break just reading posts on various boards, and then have to get back to work!

I also want to watch Return to Cranford, but between figure skating, seeing if I can catch any of the royal wedding, grocery shopping, and a dinner party at my mother's, I don't know if I will fit it in this weekend, after all!

Last night I read Gaskell's essay (published prior to Cranford in an American periodical), 'The Last Generation in England', and it was very enjoyable.  It was recollections of her time in Knutsford with the older ladies there, and many of the anecdotes (about ten) later found their way into Cranford.  I think that the creators of the miniseries must also have referenced this essay, because it tells about someone who would ride about in a carriage full of dogs, all dressed in the latest ladies' and gentlemen's fashions, like Carlo in the show, and I don't think that in the novel it was ever mentioned that Mrs. Jamieson dressed Carlo like that.  Gaskell's premise was that time changes things very quickly, and one generation doesn't know what life was like for the preceding generation, so she is trying to record things before they are forgotten and lost forever.  I'm sure her intention in writing Cranford was the same.

[Peppermill]

If you want to visit or re-visit The Wedding, this link posted elsewhere by a former friend of this board may well be of interest:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/missed-the-royal-wedding-or-dont-want-to-re...

[Peppermill]

Finished listening to/reading Cranford once again this morning. 

The relatively happy ending with Peter home once again is rather pleasant.  I liked, too, the arrangements for the servants, Martha and Jenn (do I spell that correctly -- my copy is upstairs and too lazy to pull up the online version tonight).  Will probably try to write another post or two, but not tonight. 

Spilling the candies out the window as they closed up the shop was rather cute, including the admonishments from Miss Matty not to eat too much.  (I had enjoyed the narrator's convincing Miss Matty earlier to avoid totally giving away the store with her extra weight with each order.)

Gunpowder tea -- now it has been several years since I have seen that.  I used to drink it, back in the Seventies and perhaps early Eighties.