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Title: North & South

Author: Elizabeth Gaskell

Narrator: Jenny Agutter

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-16-12

Publisher: The Copyright Group

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

In this classic Victorian novel, Elizabeth Gaskell explores the themes of love and social justice in an industrial age. Set in the north of England, out-of-towner Margaret Hale finds herself simultaneously attracted to mill owner John Thorton, and repulsed by the way he treats his workers. Full of history, romance, and social commentary, North & South will provoke your mind and tug at your heart.

This production is read for you by the accomplished screen, stage, and TV actress Jenny Agutter, most famously known for her role in The Railway Children.

Members Reviews:

Beautiful narration on an interesting theme!

What made the experience of listening to North and South the most enjoyable?

Juliet Stevenson's narration was perfect for this story of class differences, labor vs. the masters, etc.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Margaret Hale was a strong character who grows as the book evolves. She has almost every bad thing happen to her and she continues to do the right thing. She is a great heroine.

Have you listened to any of Juliet Stevensonâs other performances before? How does this one compare?

Any book she does is suberb.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end when Mr. Thornley and Margaret meet for what could be the last time...It has it all, humor and pathos.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful story, but I did find Margaret's father as the weakest character in the novel. If he leaves the church because he believes more in the reformers than the regular church, why does the family no longer seem to attend church at all? For a former minister to become a tutor but not attend church seems false to me. My only complaint on the book though.

An English pastor, his wife, and daughter leave the country and move to a factory town, experiencing many griefs, but learning to understand and love their unfamiliar neighbors.

There was a lot of emphasis on grief, particularly in grieving for the several principal characters who were claimed by death after their personalities were fairly developed. It seemed as though the author reveled in killing off as many characters as feasible! The introduction was detailed, the conflict was long and sad, and the happy denouement was quite short, and at the extreme end of the book. It was interesting to observe the changes of opinion and feeling of the hero and heroine, but I can't help feeling some of the events were unlikely, such as the heroine losing all her authorities and gaining wealth in the same year from a surplus of sickness-related deaths. Once the first third of the book is over, the action picks up. Business concepts are generally referred to, but lack technical detail. Much of the tension is built on a lack of communication, which could have been easily resolved very early on. An interesting read, but definitely not a pattern for lifestyle.

Worth a read on so many levels

I don't know why this book and movie aren't more well known. They are at least as good as Pride and Prejudice. Gaskell's writing is fabulous and the film adaptation, though varying somewhat from the book, is also well done.

The book follows a young lady through her difficult move from a home she loves in the south of England to the colder, harsher climate of a Northern England mill town.