Reviews

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

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sarahandika's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This is a beautiful piece of literature that goes beyond the central love story. Gaskell contrasts the genteel south, represented by Margaret Hale, with the harsh industrial north embodied by John Thornton. More than offering us a simple romance tale, she delivers beautiful and intelligent social commentary on life, finding purpose, social justice rights, virtues, the war of the haves and the have nots and so on, all topics that remain relevant to this day, and that have had her book age like fine wine.

While often compared to the works of Austen (and ostensibly how I came across her works), she is drastically different in that her books are heavier and take a more serious rather than satirical approach to the discussion of social issues and recognize the world beyond aristocratic woes and issues. I loved how, for example, upon returning to Harley Street, realized how the struggles of workers and others are often hidden behind view from those who are more well-off and this is often true of books dealing with higher-society types, where the reader often gets a romanticised view of life in said stories whilst forgetting the struggles that 99% of the population underwent at the same time.

However, what I thought was my next 5 star read, ended up falling short because I am just not an abrupt ending girlie. I remember feeling giddy while reading through Margaret’s and John’s interactions. There’s something about how writers of this era managed to communicate so much but so subtly and in a way that hooks you in so much more than the ‘in-your-face’ styles of writing we get with modern day romances. For example, when Mr. Thornton finally turns the table on Margaret and refuses to shake her hand after she turns down his proposal. I almost cheered for him. Their relationship and it’s progress was such a wonderful part of the book and I got so infuriated and enraged the more I read on and realized that the slow burn was literally about to burn out because I was literally running out of pages to read and their reunion was still being dragged out and- Excuse me! Excuse me! Excuse me! We get it finally but only 2 pages to the end of the book!!! Wtf!!! I need Gaskell to get up from her grave and give us two more chapters at the bare minimum of Margaret and Thornton professing their undying love to each other. I feel cheated and shortchanged. The last third’s plot pacing ruined the books perfection for me, especially realizing how a few of the last chapters weren’t really needed. Did we need her going back to Helston over having her final time with Thornton fleshed out a bit more for example?

Also, I get that life sucks, but why was someone dying every four chapters as if there was a death quota to fill? I will defend the other deaths because they seemed in line with the plot and realistic enough (for example Bessy dying from poor work conditions, Boucher’s depression and suicide, Mr. Hale literally dying from heartbreak etc.) but Mr. Bell’s felt to convenient and unnecessary and I’m not a fan of plotlines of main character’s randomly inheriting fortunes just to serve plotlines. It’s just me being picky, but that also was a bit of a sore point.

I also wish the author took more time to explain Mr. Hale’s decision to leave the church since it was such a central point to the plot. Another small personal issue, but I found the heavy use of accents and slang for lower-class characters, like in this book and "Wuthering Heights," exhausting. While it authentically represents their speech, it makes the book harder to read.

Those misgivings aside, this really is a top tier book that manages to blend romance with more serious social commentary seamless and has you caring for more than just the fates of the main characters. I understand why this is considered a classic and I look forward to reading more of this author’s works.

dyno8426's review against another edition

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4.0

It is always refreshing to see strong female characters in their original form and Margaret Hale is likewise a memorable one. Especially in the context of Victorian era, she belongs to the iconic ranks of Elizabeth Bennett and Helen Huntington who inspire us with their courage and depth. Her sensibility and awareness of the world around her to filter out and seek the things that truly matter to her form the core of her character. There is a reverence for the ideologies that she values and a default patience for those which is dissonant with her. Her righteousness is untainted from prejudice or snobbery, something which the genteel images of that period reflexively conjures in our minds. In fact, the sympathy and open-mindedness that Margaret displays in that youthful age makes her both accessible and likeable by even those who don't fully understand her. This softness of her demeanour makes her more rational and integral character graceful to people. Like those sensible characters that inspire us and hold a fictional model in our minds, Margaret becomes any reader's friend in no time and her difficulties become all the more relatable. And one of those difficulties is profound and core to the story - something which stands out as delving into the existence of class distinction and how it affects and is affected by the industrial age in which the story is set. Here, the story gets it balancing component - the North of John Thornton to the South of Margaret Hale.

The industrial revolution led to the flourishing of factories especially in the North (due to certain geographically suitable reasons I believe) and consequently the working class population. This book nicely connects with George Orwell's The Road to Wigan Pier which I was fortunately read recently - so the context is fresh about the origin of class problem as a result of this social tectonic shift - the cultural and identity divide between the North England and the South. The North consisted of mainly working class and business owning people - the labourers and the factory workers - which naturally lived in harsher, uncomfortable conditions due to lack of means and security. The South consisted of more bureaucratic, service folks and middle class businessmen - the more "respectable" and dignified population.Naturally, there arose perceptions and prejudice in each side about the other - the North folks were uncultured, coarse and hardened by nature, and the Southern folks are more coddled, genteel and refined in their needs. This book explores the clash between these two sides through the characters, opinions and discussions between them. Mr. Thornton is a mill owner who is a self-made man of vision and ambition. There is a stubborn, almost uncompromising attitude towards realising the success of his endeavours through all honest and rational means. But he represents one idea among the real lives of so many of his workers that his business employs and is sustained by. Margaret, coming from humble but minimal origins herself, comes face to face with the stark contrast that the social constituents of the North compared to South present to her and also within North itself - in the form of business owners and workers that give real life to the success of anyone's ideas and provides material comfort to everyone else. Their meagre and challenging circumstances captures Margarent sympathy. But her social attachment to Mr. Thornton conflicts her sensibility when confronted with Mr. Thornton's rationale to maintain the demarcation of power and its subjugation, control and its adherence, towards the ulterior and rational goal of maintaining production and business for the benefit of all involved - thus ensuing the Capitalism versus Socialism debate. Margaret naturally comes from the humane aspect of remembering the human lives involved in the transaction that exchanges human effort for capital. Her insight is spot-on with respect to the strangely paradoxical symbiosis nature of this relationship between owners and workers where both will benefit by the same thing but they are constantly standing opposed to each other to maintain an unstable equilibrium of class and expectations. It's not one of those books which take this discussion all the way. Instead it showcases Margaret's perspective and maturity as a woman who challenges the peculiarity of this world around her in own capacity. Her appreciation and attraction towards Mr. Thornton comes from an acquired understanding and an honest sense of respect which to me, basically captures the main strain of the author's intent. The confluence of the two extremes - the harshness and ugliness of the reality of our lives, versus the ideals and a sense of belonging that ennobles us as individuals of humanity - is what exists between us. No matter how much we favour one side or the other, it's hard to stay true to oneself by favouring one without being be fair to the other. Margaret and Mr. Thornton's union is a symbol of that balance and harmony between the good natured forces of either side that is much needed to counter the risks of extremism of any kind. Like any good Victorian era novel, this is a delight to read. The nuances and thoroughness of any expression, observation and reaction is so satisfying and savoury. And I must appreciate on how this one ends - happily as expected and pretty remarkably abrupt in a "modern" manner.

elysehdez19's review against another edition

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4.0

Desde hace mucho tiempo había querido leer esta novela, ya que mi único referente a la obra literaria de Elizabeth Gaskell era _Biografía de Charlotte Brontë_, pero tenía ganas de conocer más de sus novelas.

_Norte y sur_ es quizás una de las más conocidas de la autora, sin embargo no fue fácil de conseguir para mí, por lo que tuve que esperarme a que saliera publicada con la colección de Novelas Eternas. La cual considero es una buena elección, porque la traducción fue cedida por Alba Editorial a cargo de Ángela Pérez.

Ahora, adentrándome más a la novela, tiene de lo que amo encontrar en novelas de corte victoriano: mujeres que van a contra corriente con el rol que se les ha impuesto socialmente, malos entendidos y madres que creen nadie es suficientemente digna de su hijo.

Además de todo esto, la novela tiene un plus en el que establece la situación que estaba viviendo la clase obrera durante la revolución industrial. Nuestra personaje principal -y heroína, porque vaya que lo es-, Margaret Hale, debe mudarse al norte de Inglaterra con su familia, ahí conocerá más de cerca lo que es la vida de las ciudades industrializadas y cómo las condiciones de trabajo no son lo que parecen.

Vamos a encontrar muchos contrastes entre el Norte y el Sur porque se trata de dos culturas totalmente diferentes; conoceremos los puntos de vista de los patrones y la realidad de los obreros.

Junto con la historia que Elizabeth Gaskell establece, también veremos huelgas en busca de mejores condiciones de trabajo así como la formación de sindicatos.

Sin duda, creo que es una novela que debe ser leída por todas aquellas personas que deseen conocer un poco más acerca de la Revolución Industrial, no por nada esta novela -y gran parte de la producción literaria de Elizabeth Gaskell- han sido catalogadas como "Novelas Industriales".

jodiereeve's review against another edition

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funny reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

jelena_k's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

shonaholmes's review against another edition

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reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

kellyrenea's review against another edition

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5.0

I now love Gaskell! This is my second novel by her and she is a truly masterful storyteller. Wives and Daughters was a great novel but I LOVED North and South!!! Margaret and John are such delicious characters and I couldn’t stop reading until I finished! The ending at first left me thinking, what? That’s it? But after reflection I realize it was perfect. ❤️