North and South (original 1855; edition 2007)

A fun classic, a la 'Jane Austen' style - Margaret Hale, the heroine, can't help herself from falling in love with a man that she originally despises. One item that made this book a bit more interesting was all of the discussion of Northern England at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Unlike some of my recent selections from the classic shelf, no woman threw herself in front of a train or swallowed poison - definitely made this one a fun summer read! ( )

Elizabeth Gaskell is a lovely combination of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.

Why has it taken me so long to read an Elizabeth Gaskell novel? North and South is an excellent book with well-drawn characters, themes of class and religion, and a love story, too. I was initially reminded of Jane Austen (always a favorite), but as the novel progressed these themes were explored on a broader, more worldly scale. Also, although Gaskell was writing only several decades later than Austen, I was surprised to find her language much more accessible.

This was a combination read/listen for me. Juliet Stevenson's narration was nothing short of perfection.
Very highly recommended
4.5/5 stars ( )

One of my all-time favourite novels! =) I always recommend this book to other people xD You can read my review of North and South over at my blog (contains some spoilers): http://www.rulethewaves.net/blog/?p=1484 ( )

Reading this was sort of like discovering another Jane Austen, but Gaskell is more political. In this novel, first published in 1855, the heroine, Margaret Hale, must move from the rural south of England to the Industrial north. There, she is exposed to the tension between owners and workers, as she meets and befriends people on both sides of this divide. There is a strike, and it is clear that Gaskell is not much in favor of this tactic. But she doesn’t shrink from the novelist’s task of understanding what drives each of her characters.

I also enjoyed the love story at the heart of this novel. It’s a bit like Pride and Prejudice, with Margaret Hale first sitting in judgment of those who are involved in trade. Then the situation is reversed, when the hero learns something that appears to sully Margaret’s reputation.

One thing that hadn’t changed since Austen was writing: Margaret Hale has very little power to move her love affair forward. In order to preserve their dignity, women had to be passive in the face of love. In this situation, the Fates have a field day, throwing the lovers far apart before finally bringing them together.

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