Cranford

Have you seen the t.v. series, Cranford?  It's a goodie. I've just finished watching it with its short sequel, Return to Cranford.   

Based on three novellas by Elizabeth Gaskell, it's a witty social commentary set in small town Cranford, England, around the 1850s.  I think Ms. Gaskell was a contemporary of Charles Dickens but would probably be an easier read than that rather verbose wordsmith.  The characters are hilarious, I could quote them all day.  I'll have to read the books to see how accurate the show is.  It seems as though Ms. Gaskell was incredibly intelligent, how else did she know how ridiculous life could be?  Don't get too attached to any of the characters, anyone could die at a moment's notice, during a time when people died of colic, leaches were used to lower fevers, and arms were amputated while you were awake.  Plenty of 'ewww' moments. 

Thanks for the recommendation, Mum Short.