| (http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/cranford/cranfordcvr.jpg) | Published in 1853, Cranford is the story of a town that is "in the possession of the Amazons." Some delightful older women are battling to preserve the way of life and the social structure in Cranford in the face of the "progress" brought by the Industrial Revolution. Join us we read this autobiographical novel and get to know the ladies of Cranford. |
| (http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/cranford/cranfordcvr.jpg) | Published in 1853, Cranford is the story of a town that is "in the possession of the Amazons." Some delightful older women are battling to preserve the way of life and the social structure in Cranford in the face of the "progress" brought by the Industrial Revolution. Join us we read this autobiographical novel and get to know the ladies of Cranford. |
| 1832. A highly fashionable woman is calling upon her dear friend. She glides through the wallpaper-clad hallway en route to the sitting room. When she arrives at the doorway, she pauses, turns 90 degrees to the left, and shuffles into the room sideways; her sleeves are so unbelievably wide, she can’t enter normally! Believe it or not, this isn’t a scene from a slapstick comedy; it’s exactly what ladies had to do in this era if they were sporting the incredibly popular leg o’ mutton sleeve! The leg o’ mutton sleeve (also known as the gigot sleeve) acquired its name because of its unusual shape; incredibly voluminous at top and tapering just below the elbow, this facet of fashion resembled a lamb shank. First seen in 1824, this sleeve style grew in both popularity and size until 1833. In fact, by the end of its billowing fame, the leg o’ mutton sleeve was so big, the stiff horsehair fabric once used to maintain its shape was no longer sufficient. Instead, whalebone supports, large feather-stuffed pads, or steel springs were used to keep the leg o’ mutton sleeve looking perfectly pillowy. | (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/15/f8/a2/15f8a22c40a5f2e248767754c924d257.jpg) |
To use such a powerful literary allusion as Amazons is meant, I believe, and there are few enough, to encourage contemporary feminists. But in this case I believe Gaskell is having fun with it.
Fashion seems to me always to have sought to constrain women. Then it was ridiculous dresses, now it is stilettos and tight skirts.
| (http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/cranford/cranfordcvr.jpg) | Published in 1853, Cranford is the story of a town that is "in the possession of the Amazons." Some delightful older women are battling to preserve the way of life and the social structure in Cranford in the face of the "progress" brought by the Industrial Revolution. Join us we read this autobiographical novel and get to know the ladies of Cranford. |
Speaking of funerals: we've read two chapters, and there have been two deaths: both under tear wrenching circumstances. But it made me realize that in Jane Austen, written a few decades earlier, no one dies (except people we don't know, offstage).
| (http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/cranford/cranfordcvr.jpg) | Published in 1853, Cranford is the story of a town that is "in the possession of the Amazons." Some delightful older women are battling to preserve the way of life and the social structure in Cranford in the face of the "progress" brought by the Industrial Revolution. Join us we read this autobiographical novel and get to know the ladies of Cranford. |
I remember I asked Sister Imelda what adultery was? It caused great chaos.
That definition of adultery would have satisfied me. Do you know how you came up with that?I knew the word adulteration and assumed it was the same thing.
The narrator, Mary Smith, is it?
these two chapters for me were simply a straight forward reading and frankly not near as interesting so that for these 2 I could see us moving on a bit quicker -
I'm beginning to wonder if the narrator was hired as an occasional "companion" to the ladies she visited in Cranford.Hmmm... now that would explain her using the words, "my client" when they were in the shop. We sure don't know much about the narrator as of yet, she did give instructions to Martha the servant to keep here abreast of Miss Matty.
PATH: please don't burn them!
With the phone, email and text, letter writing is a lost art. How do you think that has affected our lives? In the chapter "Old Letters" Miss Matty goes through old letters and burns them. Would you have burned those letters? How would it feel to spend two+ days listening to someone read their letters? What did we learn about Miss Matty and her family?
Except for the narrator. She puzzles me. She seems uncertain about her identity. Here is an author who makes herself part of the story and then becomes uncertain about her role. Talk of clients. Now, in this chapter, it's "I, a stranger,' and later, as we know, she becomes Mary Smith. How odd.
Are they afraid of what the railways will bring in - strangers, 'foreigners'?Those may very well be some of the fears they have with the railroads. I also think they fear how it will change their small little town. I grew up in a small rural town, today when I go back to visit family I see how much it has changed over the years. With growth comes a lot more issues to deal with such as crime, drugs, and more people who do not value the small town living.
I suggest we just keep reading from here on in. And discuss or comment as something strikes you.
So, what is Gaskell trying to say about the aristocracy in this book?I think she's saying that titles or noble blood, in spite of the importance people attach to them, are no guarantee of personal worth. The highest ranking one of the group, Lady Glenmire, is genuinely a good person, friendly, compassionate, generous, considerate. The next highest ranking, Mrs. Jamieson, is self-centered, self-indulgent, cares little about hurting the feelings of others. Good and bad people come at all levels.
I have fallen in love with this book, and never want it to end. may start over again, and pick up some of the little things I missed on the way.I feel the same way. If I reread sections, I see more things each time.