North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell)

Excellent and thought provoking novel, along the lines of Pride and Predjudice. Great storyline realistic exploration of class status, religion in practice vs philosophy, and a good old fashioned romance. I'm a Jane Austen fan but I think Gaskell goes a step further in exploring pressing issues of her time, and keeping the story moving a little faster. I like that her characters get more involved in the social issues outside themselves such as unions and class struggle. Read the book then check out the movie. It's excellent as well.

Read the book and amazing how this followed the beautiful story theme. A wonderful love story with a talented cast . Daniela Denby -Ashe as Margeret and Richard Armitage as John Thorton were outstanding in their rolls and the chemistry between them was undeniabel and brougt the characters alive. This is a must have in any ones DVD collection who enjoys historical novels and Period movies

The font for this edition is very, very small. The annothations and extra info are perfect for the serious reader or student (if you have good eyes). I love this book and highly recommend it, especially for Jane Austen fans.

As so many others, I had never even heard of Gaskell until I saw (and loved!) the BBC miniseries of this book. I went to my local public library and discovered they had NOTHING by this author. So I ordered this book and have read it twice now, and while it's never going to replace Austen and Dickens in my heart, it is a good novel that I recommend to any BritLit fan. One of the things I liked most about this book (and the other works by Gaskell that I'm just now discovering) is that it's sort of like a bridge between the worlds of Austen and Dickens. I've read so much of their work that I feel I know the worlds they describe, but I always felt there was such a disconnect between them. In Gaskell I get to see the Industrial Revolution arrive on the scene and witness characters struggling to follow (and sometimes make up) the new rules of what is "proper." In Dickens' novels, it's always such a big deal whether a man is a "gentleman" or not, whereas in Austen it's much more clear-cut. So... Read more

This book by Elizabeth Gaskell is a must read for fans of the BBC mini series or basically just about anyone! It's a keeper.

I'll leave reviewing the wonderful book to others (but it gets five stars as well!) and I'll just focus on this edition. It has footnotes that cover slang terms, and bits of historical information that pertain to the story. I found them extremely helpful and interesting. There are also critical essays in the back, which I have not read. Also included are letters to and from Elizabeth Gaskell, to and from several other people, including Charles Dickens (who worked for the magazine that was publishing her story serially), other people with whom she discussed ideas for the book as she was writing, and other authors of the day (Charlotte Bronte, Harriot Beecher Stowe) writing to congratulate her and tell her how much they enjoyed her book. I found the letters very interesting and full of personality. Enjoy reading this wonderful book! I will definitely be looking for more of Norton's critical editions!

This is a wonderful story and this particular edition give excellent context and criticism that adds to the understanding and enjoyment of the story.

The more things change, the more they stay the same! In this present time of financial crisis, it is, perhaps, comforting to know that this cycle occured in the past, as it does in this book. Issues regarding capitalism, its opertion, its faults and failings are one of the many themes of this book. Margaret Hale and John Thornton are wonderful protagonists and their development toward personal and professional maturity is exciting to read. This book posits the possibility of a moral capitalism, that, while seemingly idealistic, might actually work if we try. Now might be a good time!

Beware, this book has a lot of 19th century northern English dialect. It's just delightful to read but can be hard to understand. I love that stuff so I am really enjoying reading it. If you have seen the DVD North and South, you will love the book of course, but there are some interesting changes they made in the movie. The editor for this book is very good. Very good notes and explanations of some of the finer points. I love it. I will read this book again and again. It's a keeper.

I love this book! I think if you like Jane Austin and other classics you will enjoy this story. The movie made by BBC does not follow the book exactly but is a great film and a fairly good representation of the book.