The BBC made a 5 part series of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel "Cranford" (published in 1853), a comic picture of life in an English village in the mid 1800s. It was shown in England at the end of last year and a second season (two parts) is scheduled on the BBC for Christmas 2008.

The first season is coming to PBS in May (airing May 4, 11, and 18) in three episodes. From the PBS site: "Welcome to Cranford, circa 1840...a rural English town where etiquette rules, undergirded by a healthy amount of gossip. " Staring: Judi Dench, Philip Glenister, Francesca Annis, Michael Gambon.

Read more on the PBS site

It is already available on DVD. You can get free electronic copies of the book on MobiPocket (free books) or Project Gutenberg.

Did anyone see this series in England? Is it well done?

Yes - wonderful. It was a Sunday night 'must' in this house. (Amongst the female members, anyway - my husband took one look, declared it another 'bonnets' programme and fled!)

I am an Elizabeth Gaskell fan and was a bit worried about what they would do (the wet shirt school of literary enhancement!); it is very subtle and nuanced, the quiet lives of quite ordinary people, and certainly not full of dramatic occurrences that would lend themselves to an easy adaptation but it was a very well done.

She wrote it looking back at the time of her childhood, so it was nostalgic for a rural way of life that was disappearing even then, when peoples horizons were quite narrow - the coming of the railway was the great change to a certain way of life.


I'm thrilled to hear there is going to be another batch at Xmas.

Pauline - thanks for letting us know about this. I've enjoyed reading Elizabeth Gaskell - and look forward to the new PBS broadcasts -- thanks, Panda, for letting us know the production is well done.

Judy

I agree with Panda: very well done, with lots of superb roles for women actors of all ages. Elizabeth Gaskell diehards should be warned that although the series is called Cranford, it actually brings in plotlines & characters from 2 other Gaskell novels. I last read Cranford about 40 years ago, and didn't notice the joins...

Jonathan

Good to hear this is a good production! I think Monty Python had a skit where said something was "a costume thing" - a phrase Steve regularly uses.

I have not read any of her books, but will start Cranford now.

Judy, thanks for recommending those Deborah Crombie mysteries to me (American writer, mysteries set in England). I really like them. I have read four so far. The one set in Glastonbury was great! They would make a good TV series.

Thanks for highlighting this production, Pauline. I believe it was discussed on NPR earlier today. I'm sure I'll watch it (even if Doyle doesn't) on PBS. I'm a big fan of Judi Dench.

Ann

We also recently had an adaptation of 'Lark Rise to Candleford' by Flora Thomson - I don't know if that one will be coming your way soon.

We didn't think this was as good - a bit too treacly. We had fun noting that there were a lot of the same actors in it who had been in Cranford and in the recent Sense and Sensibility TV series. We were also convinced that they had used some of the same set and locations for Cranford and Lark Rise! All of the outdoor scenes seemed to be set in one corner of a field, on the same path or the corner of a manor house garden. It is set later, at the end of the 19C and in Oxfordshire, but I was never convinced by it or really cared about the characters.(Unlike Cranford - we felt all the way with them!)

It prompted me to go back and read the books (a trilogy - like Cranford, they blended story lines) - it was reissued here about 15 (?) years ago and I enjoyed it then but rereading it now: not so sure.

Good costumes, for those interested.

I thought I might wear tartan

Oh, but then people will think you are Scotch!

Or stripes?

So flattering to the robust figure

And watch out for the explanation as to why Mrs. Forrester buys quite so much grey flannel in episode 2 or 3!

This is a bit off topic, but I loved "Miss Austen Regrets" on the BBC yesterday evening ... a drama about Jane herself, based on her letters, I think. Beautifully filmed and acted. It seems to have been shown in the USA already (back in February, I think, judging by reviews on IMDB), but it was so good I hope it will be repeated in due course.

Yes, wasn't it marvellous! Olivia Williams (as a nicely sardonic Jane) was superb.

Jonathan

quote:

The BBC made a 5 part series of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel "Cranford" (published in 1853), a comic picture of life in an English village in the mid 1800s.

I watched this show last night on PBS and really liked it! How could you not, with such a detailed depiction of daily life, and a wonderful cast of characters. (Although I kept thinking, "Willoughby!" when I saw Greg Wise on the screen.) I might search out the Elizabeth Gaskell novels.

To Patrick: Last night we found out all about Mrs. Forrester and the grey flannel.