North and South

De: Elizabeth Gaskell

Narrado por: Juliet Stevenson

Exclusively from Audible

Written at the request of Charles Dickens, North and South is a book about rebellion; it poses fundamental questions about the nature of social authority and obedience. Gaskell expertly blends individual feeling with social concern, and her heroine, Margaret Hale, is one of the most original creations of Victorian literature.

When Margaret Hale's father leaves the Church in a crisis of conscience she is forced to leave her comfortable home in the tranquil countryside of Hampshire and move with her family to the fictional industrial town of Milton in the north of England. Though at first disgusted by her new surroundings, she witnesses the brutality wrought by the Industrial Revolution and becomes aware of the poverty and suffering of the local mill workers. Sympathetic to the poor she makes friends among them and develops a fervent sense of social justice. She clashes with the mill-owner and self-made man, John Thornton, who is contemptuous of his workers. However, their fierce opposition masks a deeper attraction.

Gaskell based her depiction of Milton on Manchester, where she lived as the wife of a Unitarian minister. She was an accomplished writer, much of her work published in Charles Dickens' magazine Household Words including North and South which was originally published as a serial. She was also friends with Charlotte Brontë and after her death, her father, Patrick Brontë, chose Gaskell to write The Life of Charlotte Brontë.

Narrator Biography

Whether she's up on stage, behind the microphone or in front of the camera, Juliet Stevenson never fails to charm her audience...whoever they may be. Acting roles in Truly, Madly Deeply, Emma, Bend It like Beckham and Mona Lisa Smile have cemented her status as one of the great British actresses of our time. Meanwhile, her popular performances of hits such as Apple Tree Yard, the book that was turned into a TV series that people just couldn't stop talking about, have earned her an overwhelming amount of well-deserved praise for her spoken word talents.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"[An] admirable story...full of character and power." (Charles Dickens)

Gaskell + Stevenson = Literary Dream Team

Another astonishingly great performance by Juliet Stevenson. She does an amazing variety of accents, attitudes, and moods, and brings everything to life with such precision, I felt as if these characters were people I knew. This is one of Gaskell's best novels, both a wonderful love story and a deeply insightful analysis of labor and class divides. It was interesting to listen to this after Gaskell's Mary Barton and note the way her craft and confidence as a writer had developed.

Delicious and So Enjoyable

Drama. Tension. Maddening. Poetry. Rich use of Language. Historical Merit all over the place. A whole gambit of emotions. Spirituality and Spirit vanity and humility. Imagery. Politics. Romance. Growth of characters and never to take any expectations for granted. Buying this in book too.

Wonderful novel, wonderful narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES! I love this novel and Juliet Stevenson is my favorite narrator ever.

What other book might you compare North and South to and why?

All the love and romance of a Jane Austen novel with a little of the darkness of a Bronte novel and the added bonus of a real, social conscience that is unique to Gaskell.

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

Yes--I listened to all of Jane Austen's works read by her and loved each one. She does a great job suggesting a different character by using a very nuanced tone--not over the top, not awkward--very smooth transitions between characters.

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

I also love the BBC miniseries adaption of this novel, but what the series doesn't capture and what Gaskell captures so well, are John Thornton's thoughts and more of his interior life. All of his internal monologues are gut-wrenching.

Any additional comments?

Cannot recommend highly enough.

aaargggh! the ending!

I really liked enjoyed this book until the very last two chapters which seemed so rushed! the whole entire book the author is describing what everyone is thinking/feeling, then in the last chapter it's just a he said this, she said this, the end. so so so so frustrating to go through the whole book and have it end like that!!! I loved the performance! accents and tone to help distinguish characters were amazing!

a classic done well.

I love this book! in my opinion, it's better than Austin. I will read again.