Review: "North and South" by Elizabeth Gaskell
North and South may be downloaded for free from our ebook catalog
North and South is one of those tasty novels you'll want to set aside an entire weekend to gobble up. And then follow it up not long after by watching the excellent 2004 adaptation (although you may do these two things in reverse order--which is what I did, and it by no means lessens the enjoyment of either).
On the broad scale of literary history, Elizabeth Gaskell is probably best known for her biography of Charlotte Brontë. However, due to recent popular adaptations of her work for television includng this book plus Cranford and Wives and Daughters, she has been enjoying a well-deserved comeback.
North and South takes place in fictional Milton, presumed to be Manchester around the mid 1850s. The tale is told from the perspective of young Margaret Hale from the south of England who moves with her parents to Milton, in the north. She is immediately struck by not only the dreariness of the weather but also of the people, the city, and its surroundings. She longs for warmth, sunshine, wild roses, and the carefree days of idleness she enjoyed in the south. Everyone she meets in Milton, including her father's favorite pupil Mr Thornton, seems to grate against her southern values, seeming to care only about time and money wasted.
As the story progresses, we see Margaret suffer through many changes, both circumstantial and psychological. Her experiences with the poor and the industrial ruling classes make her rethink her preconceived ideas about Milton and its people. Many call it a social novel, providing insight to ideas at the time on religion, class, and gender. However, at heart North and South is a romance, and straight to your heart it will go. The characters are beautifully portrayed and the story hums along at a nice rate for a book of its length. Now my only regret is not having discovered this gem earlier.
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I can't wait to read the book! I loved the BBC production, and if the book follows the same tradition of having more detail and depth than what can be produced on film, then I am sure I won't be disappointed.
great! let me know what you think. i have some opinions on the book vs film, however i didn't want to share too much as it might spoil the book for some people.
I loved the book North and South. Gaskell makes her characters very realistic. I loved the comparision of the north and the south in the novel. I am a stickler for how much the movie follows the book. I think that no one can do a better dialogue than the author herself. I was sort of disappointed that lots was left out of the movie. It has been about 3 years since I read the book so names elude me but what happened does not. What a disgrace for her father to suddenly denounce his position in the church and move somewhere that totally destroyed his wife and almost put his daughter in destitution. I say how selfish. It worked out in the end for Margaret though. The love hate relationship with Mr Thornton was good. His mother was one of those hovering mothers that I would hate to have as a mother in law, but even she was sort of redeemed in the end. I wish the mini series had included more of the book and been a little longer.
I had one of those weeks where I couldn't stop reading! I loved the book, as I loved the BBC production. Yes, there are some differences, that happens frequently in turning a great book into a great movie. However, I don't think that the differences detract from the story at all! I found what I was looking for, more depth and detail than what could be conveyed on film. I confess that as much as I enjoy the way the book ends, I prefer the more romantic and dramatic version of the movie. Hey, I am a romantic. I would definitely recommend both book and movie to all who like a good clean love story that ends well. I know that I plan to both read and watch both again.
I agree about the ending! You just can't beat the BBC production ending. I was looking forward to the same thing, just with more detail in the book, and was disappointed. The rest of the book didn't disappoint, though. I was surprised that I had never heard of this book before. I suppose Gaskell is better known in her home country than elsewhere. She was not part of our required reading in US high school.
Dear Laura, I have just found your blog and really enjoyed it. So wandering about your reveals, I looked at your comment about the end of "North and South". I first watched the BBC production and loved it so much that the next day I started the novel and I couldn't believed how delightful it was. But what amazed me more is that the end of the book was so much more believable and romantic and funny that I totally prefer the book.
I don't know if you follow the older reviews comments, but I intend to keep updated with your blog and reviews. Keep up with the good work! All the best, m.
Thanks for stopping by m!
Regarding N&S, I think the book does have its merits over the BBC production. I agree that the book ending is more believable than the overly-romantic television version, and to a lot of people more believable does mean it's better!
I've read the book and enjoyed it. And I was inspired to read it after watchting bits of the BBC adaptation.
I have read the book about 15 times at least. I love it all over again every time I read it. I have to say that it's much more powerful than the BBC series although the adaptation was actually pretty good. I have followed to read Wives and Daughters and other stories by Mrs Gaskell. She is really extraordinary. Her writing is very simple yet beautiful.. I am sold for life..
This a great novel. I liked it very much because it motivated me to read and I made me raring to know what's going to happen
I did it the other way round. While waiting for the DVD to come out, I read the book and fell in love with both. And I also love both endings, can't beat the Richard Armitage kiss, though. 🙂
I love North and South! I saw the miniseries first, and could not believe that it's not more popular. I have introduced it to many, many friends. One thing I love about the book is that it gives so much time to the thoughts of BOTH Margaret and Thornton. While I adore a book like, say, Pride and Prejudice, where you mainly get the viewpoint of the heroine, I have to say that I really value the more dual narration of North and South. It's very satisfying.
I have become absolutely addicted to both the BBC production and the book. I have watched it countless times and have read the book several times too! I was equally addicted to Pride and Prejudice but now, though I still love P & P, North and South has become my all time favorite! This is a wonderfully romantic story!