In 'Cranford,' Elizabeth Gaskell artfully intertwines a rich tapestry of character sketches and satirical vignettes to form a vivid portrayal of mid-19th century small-town life in England. With its keen observance of the subtleties of social interaction and the shifting sands of progress, Gaskell's work stands as both a charming and poignant record of a world in transition. A novel told through a...