Title: North and South

Author: Elizabeth Gaskell

Genre: Classics     

Publisher: Oxford World’s Classics    

Format: Paperback

Pages: 452

Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis (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.

Review:

I think this is one of my new favourite classics! I really enjoyed this book! There were so many good aspects to it, with the characters, plot, and themes! It really encompasses so many things that I really enjoyed it!

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The book follows Margaret Hale as her father one day decides to stop being a Vicar in the south of England and move to a manufacturing town up north! This move upsets Margaret and her mother, who do not want to move, but they do anything! Her father really annoyed me. He didn’t even have the courage to tell his wife they were moving for fear of upsetting her, but moved the family for his own selfish reasons! I know this was written back in the 1800s, but still! So frustrating! You can really see the dominance of men in this book, as even when Margaret turns down a proposal, the guy doesn’t take it as a full rejection, thinking she will come to her senses. Nope, pretty sure she can decide for herself! (This is making me sound like I didn’t like the book; I liked that the book evokes these feelings and made me think about what life was like back then for women).

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The book also represents class divides and the difference between the north and south of England. Margaret is told many times she doesn’t understand the ways of the north. She tries to understand why the workers are striking against the factory owners, and how they want better pay!

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Overall, the pace was just perfect for this classic and I highly recommend for fans of Jane Austen!

Happy reading!