Cranford

Cranford is a small English town run (socially speaking) by ladies of a certain age and modest means, who have elevated genteel economy to an art form and regard men as largely unnecessary. Through the eyes of a visiting narrator we meet them all, above all gentle Miss Matty, as they navigate card parties, alarming rumors of burglars, a cat that swallows some lace, a cow in flannel pajamas, and the occasional intrusion of the century's changes: railways, banks, news from India.

Gaskell's episodes are small on purpose, and that is their power: underneath the comedy of manners runs a quiet study of poverty, loneliness, and the fierce loyalty of friends who will conspire to save one of their own without ever wounding her pride. It is a book like a series of visits, and it makes wonderful company in the ear.

At roughly 70,300 words, Cranford runs about 8 hours at 1x narration speed. That figure is an estimate based on a typical narration pace. The exact length depends on the voice and the playback speed you choose.

Cranford is in the public domain, so the complete text is free on Project Gutenberg and LoudReader has the entire Project Gutenberg catalog built in. To listen:

1. Download LoudReader for Mac or iPhone (free, no account).
2. Search for “Cranford” in the built-in catalog and add it to your library.
3. Press play. A natural offline voice reads the book while each word highlights on screen, and your place is saved between sessions.

LoudReader reads with natural offline voices, so the whole book works on a plane or underground. It is fully on-device and private, your library never leaves your device. Listening is unlimited on the free tier.