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North and South Audiobook
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(4.00) - 110,670 listener ratings
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As relevant now as when it was first published, Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South skillfully weaves a compelling love story into a clash between the pursuit of profit and humanitarian ideals. When her father leaves the Church in a crisis of conscience, Margaret Hale is uprooted from her comfortable home in Hampshire to move with her family to the North of England. Initially repulsed by the ugliness of her new surroundings in the industrial town of Milton, Margaret becomes aware of the poverty and suffering of local mill workers and develops a passionate sense of social justice. This is intensified by her tempestuous relationship with the mill-owner and self-made man John Thornton, as their fierce opposition over his treatment of his employees masks a deeper attraction. In North and South Gaskell skillfully fused individual feeling with social concern, and in Margaret Hale created one of the most original heroines of Victorian literature.
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"North and South, as a novel about love caught in the strings of differences, torn apart by modernity and tradition, of upbringing and experiences, of the aristocratic rule and the rise of the commoners, accentuated by the striking contradictions between the masculine role and the feminine role in society, might as well be entitled simply as The Man and The Woman or perhaps, The Industrial City and The Provincial Vicarage or more aptly, Of Liberty and Slavery as Elizabeth Gaskell composes with captivating eloquence the extraordinary love story of Margaret Hale and John Thornton, vividly disentangling a society built in clashing contradictions, where the peaceful serenity of the southern suburbia meets the smoky, bustling city of the Industrial north, painting a picturesque dissection of her time that reflects the conditions of a world thereafter."Your Union in itself would be beautiful, glorious---it would be Christianity itself---if it were but for an end which affected the good of all, instead of that of merely one class as opposed to another." Perhaps, one of the most important elements in Gaskell's narrative, which can be considered striking, is her ability to expostulate at the same time harmonize the differing perceptions to the benefit of all, not just shown through the closure of the rift between Margaret and Thornton as they are bound by their fervent passion, but in the same manner, it provides an edification worthy of illumination as Gaskell shows the power of love and compassion, its enigmatic ability to change people directly or even indirectly towards the understanding of all, as North and South is not just a simple love story between a man and a woman, nor an eccentric love and hate story between the master and his people especially reflected with the relationship between Thornton and the staunch Union leader Nicholas Higgins, but most importantly, it is a story of love in its sacred unification, the kind of love that can melt even those with the hearts of stone as Gaskell defines it in its Utopian form that should exist amongst all men regardless of who and what they are. ☾☯"
— ☽ (4 out of 5 stars)
North and South Listener Reviews
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" Interesting themes of mutiny in this - at first glance - rather soppy book about love in a gritty Northern town. But there is more to it than that. The father mutinies against the established church, the brother mutinies on board his ship, the mill workers go on strike and the main characters fight against love. Great psychological stuff. "
— Jane, 2/18/2014 -
" The background and setting for this book is remarkable. The industry is described with such color. If you're a fan of Dickens, but perhaps don't like the depressing nature some of his novels take, you should try this book. I will admit everything seems to be rushed towards the end, but everything works out. Oh, and if you like this book, be sure to read Shirley by Charlotte Bronte. It has similar themes to this book. "
— Drucilla, 2/18/2014 -
" Loved the book and loved the movie as well. "
— Stacy, 2/14/2014 -
" Loved it...did move a little slow at times but loved the development of the characters and the human interaction. "
— DeAnn, 2/8/2014 -
" A really fine book and it reveals an in-depth understanding of Victorian society and the problems faced by it due to industrial revolution. "
— Rakesh, 2/3/2014 -
" I'd wanted to read this for a reaaally long time, and it was awesome. I can't believe how much I fangirled while reading it. I'm really glad that, even though I've watched the mini-series a couple of times ("a couple"), I still got excited about every little thing. It gave me lots of feelings. I enjoyed it thoroughly. "
— Memmis, 2/1/2014 -
" This is book is so good! Read it. "
— Amy, 1/22/2014 -
" A beautiful love story that took place in the background of the class conflicts of North and South and the industrialization of the North. Margaret Hale and John Thornton were wonderful characters and both of them had strong family values. Margaret was a strong and courageous woman who was able to stand up to the trials and tribulations thrown her way. John was absolutely swoon-worthy and his unyielding love for Margaret made your heart swell. "
— Peach, 1/20/2014 -
" 2nd reading. Still loved the story, didn't enjoy the storytelling as much as the first time. "
— Kirk, 1/19/2014 -
" My love for North and South goes back a few years to a summer I spent in England. I was dreadfully sick for several days and confined to my host's house--so she took the opportunity to deluge me in all things British. One such British treasure she shared with me was the BBC's film rendition of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. As an avid Jane Austen fan, I found the storyline and themes to be very similar to my favorite author's work. The story centers around a strong female lead, Margaret Hale, who is pushed outside of her comfort zone and familiar lifestyle as a result of her father's change in career. One thing I particularly appreciated about Gaskell's story as opposed to an Austen work is that the reader sort of develops as the character does. I felt much more of a connection with Margaret than I ever have with Elizabeth. I also liked that this book was written in third person omniscient, which delved more in-depth into the thoughts of each character and gave me a better overview of everything as it was happening. Like any non-contemporary piece, the language and style of writing is an adjustment at first, but once you're used to the flow, the story flows nicely. As an end note, I would highly recommend watching the BBC film after reading the book. It's really a fantastic and accurate portrayal of the study. "
— Tina, 1/15/2014 -
" I realy like the book. It was a realy good story. When I wrote this I only read the first 19 chapters after finishing all 60 I must say it was butter then I expected and the end was perfect. Though I know it was unfinished I must say that anymore would have destercted from the story. "
— Melissa, 1/12/2014 -
" Disappointed that I didn't like this more. I was looking for a great Austen-esque read. and this fell short. Gaskell has a lot to say here about unions, industrialization, religion, women's rights, etc. However, a lot of that just went on and on and got in the way of the story. Thornton is a good character, but Margaret is too busy hating his politics to see past that to the good man he is. And then at the end, all of a sudden, they fall in each other's arms. Rather unrealistic because they spend very little time getting to know each other, just talking about his mill and master vs. worker. "
— Michelle, 1/12/2014 -
" I recently finished listening to North and South on my Ipad. It was fine, very predictable and nothing overly exciting. Just another book I can check off my list. "
— Tamara, 1/9/2014 -
" The background and setting for this book is remarkable. The industry is described with such color. If you're a fan of Dickens, but perhaps don't like the depressing nature some of his novels take, you should try this book. I will admit everything seems to be rushed towards the end, but everything works out. Oh, and if you like this book, be sure to read Shirley by Charlotte Bronte. It has similar themes to this book. "
— Drucilla, 1/4/2014 -
" I could not put it down. "
— Nicola, 12/31/2013 -
" the story is very nice and the tv adaptation was great too...!! "
— Eleni, 12/29/2013 -
" Elizabeth Gaskell is like Jane Austen punched with grit and realism. I love this book. It is comparable to Pride and Prejudice in terms of the relationship (mucho misunderstandings) but wow. Just wow. It is absolutely beautiful, heart-wrenching, and yet somehow happy. A favorite for sure. "
— Sashedblue, 12/28/2013 -
" It's an amazing and gloomy novel "
— Haidy, 12/23/2013 -
" Loved the book, but the frivolous part of me loves the movie better. "
— Ashley, 12/14/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book but I wasn't prepared for the abruptness of the ending. I thought it out of character for the book. "
— Shannon, 12/4/2013 -
" the Movie is better than the book. "
— Beth, 11/30/2013 -
" amazing. johm thornton - yummy! i want him all. to myself. i cannot believe what margaret said to him when he was proposing, but i forgive her, she seen sense in the end :) "
— Stacey, 11/22/2013 -
" She really knows how to draw out the suspense. "
— Mindy, 11/16/2013 -
" Oh, how I love this book! Like Jane Austen only better.... "
— Wagga, 11/10/2013 -
" I just couldn't get into this book. Part of the dialogue was hard to slog through. I did find Margaret's life interesting to follow, but some of the details were slow to read through. "
— Bookworm, 10/25/2013 -
" Good tension between the characters. Unconventional gender roles. The end wraps up too quickly. Overall, great read. "
— Emily, 10/19/2013 -
" If you love Pride and Prejudice you will love this Elizabeth Gaskell book! "
— Sue, 10/11/2013 -
" Meh.....it was recommended as a "if you like Pride and Prejudice, you'll like this". Can't say any of the characters really stood out for me. It was an okay read that fell short of expectations. The main characters can't really compare to Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. "
— Monique, 9/9/2013 -
" I had seen the BBC / A&E series, but loved the book! "
— Karren, 6/12/2013 -
" I simultaneously started watching the series of these (and have yet to finish them), and had a very different picture of what the protagonist should look/act like. I hear the ending of the movie is great, but I also liked the ending: abrupt yet satisfying. "
— Janelle, 5/15/2013 -
" I wish I could give it more than five stars! "
— Cynthia, 5/8/2013 -
" Wonderful, wonderful book! If you liked the movie, the book is just as good. "
— Carolyn, 3/21/2013 -
" i'm a sucker for this type of novel. I read it when my son was reading it for Higher English and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it! (more than he did I suspect!!) "
— Anne, 12/10/2012 -
" The storyline is too much like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I found no surprises and the pace of the story was too slow. The parsing of human emotions ad nausea, a popular 19th-century novel subject for female readers, is just not that interesting to me. "
— Misteeyed, 11/13/2012 -
" MOST ROMANTIC BOOK EVER. Although I prefer the ending as told by the Masterpiece mini-series. "
— Hannah, 11/1/2012 -
" Actually changed an opinion I had about the way I behave. Lots of people die in it, though. "
— Paul, 10/11/2012 -
" Gaskell one of the best authors there ever was, and I love all her works. Her writing is a reflection of the pristine times we've lost as a species. "
— Bluenoon, 10/2/2012 -
" Amazing story!!! The way Mr. Thornton loves Magaret is beautiful!! And, for a History teacher like me, is an amazing view of the industrial revolution period. "
— Deborah, 9/17/2012 -
" Oh, how I love this book! Like Jane Austen only better.... "
— Wagga, 8/2/2012 -
" Although a bit cumbersome in places, the story is enticing. Here and there, bits of prose stand out, memorable and striking. I enjoyed watching the BBC production first, as the show and book line up beautifully and suit one another. A lovely book. "
— Chelsea, 6/11/2012 -
" This was a darker Pride & Prejudice but I really enjoyed it. BBC made a great mini series from this book. I just wish the book had ended as well as the mini series did. "
— Rebecca, 4/27/2012 -
" similar love story principle as Pride & Prejudice: wrong first impressions, then guy loves girl, then girl loves guy, then both understand each feelings and live happily forever. But loved it nonetheless. "
— NL, 2/29/2012 -
" I finished this a while back, but it is a fantastic book. Light enough for easy reading, but with characters compelling enough that they stay with you. "
— Claire, 2/14/2012 -
" So far, I'm at the part where Mr. Thornton is hanging out with mom and sis...Pretty good so far! "
— Velvet, 1/1/2012 -
" This might be blasphemy, but I think I liked this one better the Pride and Prejudice. It is in the same time period, and I just love the story. It also shows more than just the higher class, it also shows the workers, and I really enjoyed their story. "
— Cbringhurst, 12/28/2011 -
" It was a bit slow-moving, especially since I'd seen the movie before. However, the book enhanced the movie so much when I watched it again! I've heard this compared to Pride and Prejudice, but it's a much deeper class warfare than that. You can't get much better than Thornton and Margaret. *sigh* "
— Jb34, 12/11/2011 -
" Really good book. But don't fool yourselves, this is not Jane Austen. So for those of you reading it to get the same feeling that you got when you read Pride and Prejudice, just go read Pride and Prejudice again. "
— Melissa, 11/13/2011 -
" Oh, I loved it! Sort of slow at times, so I did some skimming. But the story was wonderful and so romantic. I just added the movie to my Netflix queue. Can't wait to see it! "
— Stephanie, 9/9/2011 -
" Such a good classic read. Does not disappoint. "
— Bobword, 7/28/2011 -
" Finally got around to reading this Gaskell classic, and it did not disappoint. Excellent. (Grade: "B+".) "
— Heather, 6/26/2011 -
" I liked this book, but it was so long! It wrapped up in the last couple pages, and after reading the book for so long, I thought I deserved a little longer on the happy ending. "
— Katie, 5/27/2011 -
" Try new things you MIT find something you like better ... "
— Nour, 5/25/2011 -
" It's a great book for any reader who is looking for a read-alike to <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>. "
— Bodagirl, 5/22/2011 -
" one of the best period novels i've read :) "
— Cranberrycuppycakes, 5/22/2011 -
" It's a great book for any reader who is looking for a read-alike to <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>. "
— Bodagirl, 5/22/2011 -
" one of the best period novels i've read :) "
— Cranberrycuppycakes, 5/22/2011 -
" It's a great book for any reader who is looking for a read-alike to <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>. "
— Bodagirl, 5/22/2011 -
" one of the best period novels i've read :) "
— Cranberrycuppycakes, 5/22/2011 -
" It's a great book for any reader who is looking for a read-alike to <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>. "
— Bodagirl, 5/22/2011 -
" one of the best period novels i've read :) "
— Cranberrycuppycakes, 5/22/2011 -
" While I already knew the storyline of this book, I absolutely loved reading it. "
— Sarah, 5/12/2011 -
" While I already knew the storyline of this book, I absolutely loved reading it. "
— Sarah, 5/12/2011 -
" While I already knew the storyline of this book, I absolutely loved reading it. "
— Sarah, 5/12/2011 -
" While I already knew the storyline of this book, I absolutely loved reading it. "
— Sarah, 5/12/2011 -
" This book and the BBC miniseries is my least obsession. If you like Pride & Prejudice, you'll love this book and movie. "
— Becca, 5/11/2011 -
" This book and the BBC miniseries is my least obsession. If you like Pride & Prejudice, you'll love this book and movie. "
— Becca, 5/11/2011 -
" This book and the BBC miniseries is my least obsession. If you like Pride & Prejudice, you'll love this book and movie. "
— Becca, 5/11/2011 -
" This book and the BBC miniseries is my least obsession. If you like Pride & Prejudice, you'll love this book and movie. "
— Becca, 5/11/2011 -
" Reading this again with PEMBERLEY LADIES. LOVE it! "
— Jennifer, 5/5/2011 -
" Reading this again with PEMBERLEY LADIES. LOVE it! "
— Jennifer, 5/5/2011 -
" Reading this again with PEMBERLEY LADIES. LOVE it! "
— Jennifer, 5/5/2011 -
" Reading this again with PEMBERLEY LADIES. LOVE it! "
— Jennifer, 5/5/2011 -
" Loved the story and the characters. And loved the BBC movie! "
— Christina, 5/4/2011 -
" Second half of the book was better than the first. "
— Bridget, 5/4/2011 -
" Loved the story and the characters. And loved the BBC movie! "
— Christina, 5/4/2011 -
" Second half of the book was better than the first. "
— Bridget, 5/4/2011 -
" Loved the story and the characters. And loved the BBC movie! "
— Christina, 5/4/2011 -
" Second half of the book was better than the first. "
— Bridget, 5/4/2011 -
" Loved the story and the characters. And loved the BBC movie! "
— Christina, 5/4/2011 -
" Second half of the book was better than the first. "
— Bridget, 5/4/2011 -
" 19th century romance + labor relations = right up my alley. Some of the religious sentiments carried on too much, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. "
— Molly, 5/2/2011 -
" 19th century romance + labor relations = right up my alley. Some of the religious sentiments carried on too much, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. "
— Molly, 5/2/2011 -
" 19th century romance + labor relations = right up my alley. Some of the religious sentiments carried on too much, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. "
— Molly, 5/2/2011 -
" 19th century romance + labor relations = right up my alley. Some of the religious sentiments carried on too much, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. "
— Molly, 5/2/2011
About Elizabeth Gaskell
Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–1865) was an English novelist and short-story writer born in London and raised in Knutsford, Cheshire, which became the model for village settings in her novels. In 1832 she married William Gaskell, a Unitarian minister. Her first novel, Mary Barton, published in 1848, was immensely popular and brought her to the attention of Charles Dickens, who solicited her work for his periodical, Household Words, for which she wrote the series subsequently reprinted as Cranford.
About Heather Wilds
Heather Wilds is an award-winning narrator and actress. She has won three AudioFile Earphones Awards for her narrations. She trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and the University of Glamorgan and has appeared in numerous plays, receiving critical acclaim. She has also performed in award-winning short films, appeared on television and in commercials, and has worked extensively as a voice-over artist.