# Cranford — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell.

- [Our Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/i-our-society.md): The narrator introduces the town of Cranford, a female-dominated society where widows and spinsters hold sway and gentlemen are conspicuously absent. The ladies maintain strict social codes, elegant economy, and a collec
- [II: The Captain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/ii-the-captain.md): The narrator describes the daily habits and poverty of the Brown family, focusing on Captain Brown's kindness and eccentricities. Miss Brown's lingering illness and irritable temper are revealed, and her death follows Ca
- [A Love Affair of Long Ago](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/iii-a-love-affair-of-long-ago.md): After Miss Jenkyns's death, the narrator returns to Cranford and stays with Miss Pole and then Miss Matty. Miss Matty, now called Matilda, is grieving and anxious. The narrator hears of a past love affair between Miss Ma
- [IV: A Visit to an Old Bachelor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/iv-a-visit-to-an-old-bachelor.md): Mary Smith visits Miss Matty, who has been unwell. Martha confides her desire for a follower, and Mary learns from Miss Pole that Thomas Holbrook is dying. Miss Matty conceals her grief, later relenting to allow Martha t
- [Old Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/v-old-letters.md): Miss Matty and Mary Smith sort through old family letters, revealing the romantic correspondence between Miss Matty's parents before their marriage, as well as letters from the rector and his mother. The chapter explores

> 10 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=cranford_se_1064kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Poor Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/vi-poor-peter.md)
- [Visiting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/vii-visiting.md)
- [Your Ladyship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/viii-your-ladyship.md)
- [IX: Signor Brunoni](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/ix-signor-brunoni.md)
- [X: The Panic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/x-the-panic.md)
- [XI: Samuel Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/xi-samuel-brown.md)
- [XIII: Stopped Payment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/xiii-stopped-payment.md)
- [XIV: Friends in Need](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/xiv-friends-in-need.md)
- [XV: A Happy Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/xv-a-happy-return.md)
- [XVI: Peace to Cranford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters/xvi-peace-to-cranford.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/cranford_se/chapters