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A review by tayking
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
This book has so much to chew on and offered so much room for reflection and contemplation on the themes that it introduces, in addition to being an exquisite romance. The end, including her visit to Helstone drags a little bit, but overall the care sewn into this novel is evident.
Many of the topics in this novel are those you see in Pride and Prejudice (parents who have failed their children, the duty of a daughter to her family, women's lack of agency especially when to comes to marriage, an affluent individual learning to empathize with those "below" him, etc. etc.) -- however, I believe that Gaskell executes them better and delves even deeper into social issues for her time. It's an absolute treasure.
Many of the topics in this novel are those you see in Pride and Prejudice (parents who have failed their children, the duty of a daughter to her family, women's lack of agency especially when to comes to marriage, an affluent individual learning to empathize with those "below" him, etc. etc.) -- however, I believe that Gaskell executes them better and delves even deeper into social issues for her time. It's an absolute treasure.