Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford paints a vivid and warm portrayal of a provincial town in early Victorian England, one where the community is ruled by its sophisticated and independent women. The Last Generation in England and The Cage at Cranford, two short works by Gaskell that are connected, are included in this collection. The introduction by Dinah Birch reflects recent revisions to the way Gaskell's work is viewed as well as the emerging understanding that Cranford is much more than the mildly endearing comedy that it was once thought to be. An updated bibliography and extended notes are included in the book.
