Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford whisks readers away to the quaint and charming English town of Cranford, where the rhythms of rural life unfold amidst the tea sipping, gossiping, and genteel manners of its inhabitants. Set in the early 19th century, the novel offers a delightful glimpse into the everyday lives of the residents, particularly the female-dominated society led by the formidable Miss Deborah Jenkyns and her sister, Miss Matty. Elizabeth Gaskell [1810 - 1865], born in London, England, grew up with her aunt in Knutsford, just outside Manchester. She later married William Gaskell, who was a pastor in Manchester. Among her circle of friends were Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë. Among her most famous works are Cranford and Wives and Daughters.