'It is astonishing how much the presence of one person can make others feel secure.'

First serialised in Household Words in 1851, Cranford is a charming, episodic novel which has been adapted for the stage, radio and TV.

Based on the small Cheshire town of Knutsford where Gaskell was raised, Cranford paints a tender, witty portrait of an English village and its beloved locals. Consisting of a series of sketches, the novel recounts the lives of the kind-hearted but anxious Miss Matty Jenkins, and her sharper, opinionated sister Miss Deborah. Life moves quietly in Cranford – a place where even a missing cat or a new visitor stirs excitement – but beneath the calm lies a deep resilience, quiet sorrow and female friendships built to endure life's challenges. Brought together with Gaskell's trademark warmth, humour and intricate detail, Cranford became widely popular in the early twentieth century, and remains well read to this very day. This audiobook edition is vividly brought to life by Kristin Atherton.

Elizabeth Gaskell (1810 – 1865) was an English novelist, short story writer and biographer. Her work often focused on Victorian society and the lives of the working class. Gaskell was also a close friend of the writer Charlotte Brontë, penning her first biography. She is considered one of the most socially conscious novelists of her time.