Review: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Book: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Published by Penguin Classics; 1996
451 pages
Format: Hardcover
Genres: Classics/English Literature
I got this book from the library
This counts towards my Classics Club Challenge


Synopsis via Goodreads: She tried to settle that most difficult problem for women, how much was to be utterly merged in obedience to authority, and how much might be set apart for freedom in working.' North and South is a novel about rebellion. Moving from the industrial riots of discontented millworkers through to the unsought passions of a middle-class woman, and from religious crises of conscience to the ethics of naval mutiny, it poses fundamental questions about the nature of social authority and obedience. Through the story of Margaret Hale, the middle-class southerner who moves to the northern industrial town of Milton, Gaskell skilfully explores issues of class and gender in the conflict between Margaret's ready sympathy with the workers and her growing attraction to the charismatic mill owner, John Thornton.

I love love love this book. I think it may be my new favorite classic. (Is that sentence an oxymoron?) I love Margaret Hale. She's smart and stubborn and doesn't take anyone's crap. Ever. I also love that she idolizes the country life that she had in southern England and misses it terribly when her father uproots the family to the mill towns of northern England.

Mr. Hale is kind of a space cadet. He's an endearing character despite his faults, but sometimes I just want to be like "What the eff Papa Hale?" I find Mrs. Hale to be a bit tedious. Margaret definitely puts some force behind the nature part of nature vs. nurture because there is no way she got to be that badass from DNA alone.

Then there's John Thorton. Sa-woon. Seriously. He's a bit proud, kind of reserved and very romantic (at least to me). I just adore him. He's a stand-up guy despite a few faults. He's very business minded but has a good heart. Though his relationship with his mother does leave something to be desired.

Oh and there's riots. Like seriously scary riots. About wages, hours and people having textile fluff in the lungs. Hardcore. Is it a bit messed up that I think one of the most romantic scenes in the book happens during a riot? Because I believe it. I know some people kind themselves disappointed with how the book ends but I love it and I think it is super romantic. It melts my heart a little bit.

Oh, major morale of the story here: COMMUNICATE PEOPLE!! Use your words. 

Then there's the BBC mini series. It is so worth watching. The who's who of British actors/actresses is in it, including the man who plays Bates in Downton Abbey. The actor who plays John Thorton is so handsome. I even liked the subtle changes that they made to the story. It's a long one, but is very much worth the watch.

Oh, I love all things British.