Period drama thats an alternative Austen now | TV Shows

A beloved period drama adapted from a collection of classic novels is now available to stream.

The series Cranford has been praised by fans on IMDb, with one reviewer titling their 10/10 assessment, “Splendid, best of the best” and going on to declare, “This was Austen, Dickens and a bit of George Eliot all together and then some.

“The bad people not quite as cruel as Dickens. Class System naturally present but not as pronounced and little to none of who has how many thousand pounds and the need for dowries as in Jane Austen.”

They added, “There is laughter, joy, tragedy, misunderstanding, partings, reunions, love, gained, lost, unrequited.

“What makes this a tour de force is the Cast. Every performance exceptional beyond words, Jewels both from the women and the men. So many from the treasure chest of British thespians female and male.”

They added, “There’s a wealth of material here and the BBC put a lot of effort and time into making this a worthwhile production.”

Another viewer wrote, “Absolutely Excellent – from buttermilk to boots. There is much to love about this series. I have watched it so many times! I adore the entire cast, the sets, the little village of Cranford, all of the story arcs! I will continue to watch this series always! Imelda is AMAZING!”

Another captivated fan gave another 10/10 review and titled their review, “Please Mum, Could We Have More Cranford?”

The user stated, “We just sat down with our (first of many, hopefully) annual viewing of the entire Cranford cycle, and it has won an honored place in our collection of powerful, and sweet, stories of strong and loving people, in communities of both tradition and change.”

Cranford initially aired on the BBC in the UK in 2007 as a five-part series with only one series.

The historical drama was inspired by the works of author Elizabeth Gaskell, specifically her three novellas Cranford, My Lady Ludlow and Mr Harrison’s Confessions, which were published between 1849 and 1858.

Gaskell, often compared to Jane Austen, is equally cherished, with fans eagerly awaiting more episodes of Cranford.

The series was adapted for television by Heidi Thomas, who also drew inspiration from Gaskell’s non-fiction piece The Last Generation in England.

Cranford explored the lives of women living in a fictional village in Cheshire, England, during the 1840s, chronicling their victories and struggles. The show boasted a stellar cast, including Dame Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Dame Eileen Atkins, Julia McKenzie, Barbara Flynn and Deborah Findlay.

Cranford is available to watch on Peacock and Apple TV.