Reviews - North and South: Original

3.56k reviews for:

North and South: Original

Elizabeth Gaskell

4.12 AVERAGE

katyandthebear's review against another edition

3.0

emotional hopeful slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

rwalker101's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful 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

This was, at times, so silly (in the way that only serialized Victorian novels can be).

This was, at other times, so profound in its observations even, what, 150? 175? years later that I found myself propelled into deep internal discussions with myself about my opinions on class, morality, labor rights, violence, and yes, love, that I'm sure will continue to haunt me.

huzzah

terri0307's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book provides a glimpse into a world long past yet still relevant to the class struggles we are experiencing today.

jenny_king's review against another edition

5.0

You can see why this book constantly gets compared to pride and prejudice - here you have an enemies to loves stories, complete with unrequited love, passionate refusals and brooding angst. In many of the descriptions of Margaret you can see the reflections of Elizabeth’s spirit, and yet Margaret is a far more subtle character, and one who has to face far more hardships. At times she feels almost timid, and yet at other times you can see her courage and stubbornness.

And you also feel so much pity for her, trapped between 2 parents who are not entirely satisfied, or even able to step up to their responsibilities, leaving Margaret to face the hardships alone. And yet she is also a flawed character- I did often want to slap her for her unfounded prejudice of Mr Thornton simply for his position and demeanour, without willing to take the time to see him for the man he is. Much like his counterpart Mr Darcy he is an incredibly honest and principled man, who felt his position as a master and head of his family preceded everything. He stood tall and haughty, and yet deep inside his unrequited love and ongoing devotion to Margaret was painful to read at times, particularly when he had cause to think the worst of her.

But where this novel stands out is its setting, moving away from the rose tinted views of the safety of small towns and villages, into the bleak and gloomy mill towns where poverty is prevalent. Not only does Gaskell set the story here, but she points a lens on the lower classes, on the poverty, hunger and poor working conditions, and then the desperation behind the strikes. Some of the core characters come from these working classes, and using their dialects she paints the picture of life and death for the men, women and children bound to the mills.

So how do these two books compare - for the romantic reader Pride and Prejudice will always stand out as the favourite book of all time. But for the discerning reader who is looking for more depth, both in character and society, then North and South is perhaps more preferable.