I’ve read a lot of Gaskell’s novels including Cranford – way back when… but I don’t remember ever seeing Mr Harrison’s Confessions which is a prequel to Cranford. As soon as I started reading it I realised that when the BBC did their fairly recent dramatisation of Cranford they sensibly used this book too.
It’s an amusing tale of what happens when a young doctor moves to the rural village of Duncombe. He is given a very warm welcome by all but especially those who have daughters to marry off, and in no time he finds himself in a tricky situation – or three, and all because he heeded Mr Morgan, his medical mentor’s advice.
It’s a very quick read at just 106 pages and I’ll be counting it on my Classics Club reading list.
As you know, I loved Cranford, so I’ll be picking this one up shortly.
Joan,
It’s a very quick read and I think you’ll enjoy it. I hope you can get it from your library.