Where the Rules Must Be Followed

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very pleasant little book.

It's not an adventure. Very few elements of a love story. Not a lot of snappy dialogue. But I would call it charming book and an enjoyable read.

Most of the characters here are older ladies in a quiet little town that somehow has very few men attached to it. The women are particular in their habits and expectations. They do not break the rules very often. And they don't associate with those who do. They're crotchety at times, but most of them, especially Miss Matty, who is really the MC, are quite thoughtful and kind. This tells how these ladies get by while living, most of them, on a reduced income, but still trying to maintain appearances and never be vulgar.

As an American, it is so eye-opening to read this, speaking in terms of class and rank and gender. It's so horrible to see how every life here was stunted by being required to fit in narrowly defined roles. Miss Matty might have married and been happy, but was talked out of it because he wasn't the right type. Lady Glenmire, the highest ranking woman in the story, is looked down on for marrying a man of lower rank. Young domestics are discouraged from having "followers," and when Martha is allowed to see a man once a week, it's a huge liberty. And Miss Matty's brother leaves England as a young man after he's beaten for a silly prank that would mean nothing to anyone I knew but embarrassed his father to the point of rage. It's only as an old man that he is reunited with his sister--the one who never married.

So often, Matty tries to guess what her severe sister would have said about this or that, wondering if it is allowed, as if going to see a magician could be wrong, or calling someone by a nickname, or visiting too openly with tradespeople. Behavior that would be considered so arrogant and rude that it would be unthinkable is considered proper here and is applauded. Kissing up to one's "betters" is also expected. It's so strange.

But in context, it's just how their lives were managed. I wish they had felt freer to make different choices, and maybe the author did too, but they still had pretty happy lives. The book is sad in places, and there are disappointments, but overall the story is hopeful and sweet.

The TV miniseries of this seems very faithful to the overall contours of the story, though it elaborates a bit on the book in places. But all of the events in the book are in the show, or so it seemed to me as I read.

Recommended for those who think they like Elizabeth Gaskell. You will likely enjoy this.

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