North and South

By: Elizabeth Gaskell

Narrated by: Kate Petrie

Length: 16 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Margaret Hale returns home to her family in the rural south of England, after living with a wealthy aunt for 10 years, learning how to become a proper young woman. She is not home for long before her life is uprooted and her family moves to a town called Milton, in Northern England, where her father intends to be a tutor, leaving their Pastoral life, and the Church of England behind.

One of Mr. Hale's pupils, Mr. Thornton, runs the cotton mill and has taken a keen interest in Margaret, who is disgusted by the amount of poverty around Milton and, also, by the way Mr. Thornton treats his employees. Although an uprising is brooding and Margaret sympathizes with the workers, she starts to become fond of Thornton and his ambition after living for 18 months in Milton.

Margaret is surrounded by tragedy and loss from her family's ailing health, and a secret she must never reveal. Her societal upbringing in the south begins to clash with the northern poverty and her morals are beginning to shift and polarize. When more death starts to intrude on Margaret's life, she leaves Milton to return south to her Aunt where Margaret learns of a fortunate change of circumstance awaiting her that changes everything, including her relationship with Mr. Thornton.

©2016 A.R.N. Publications (P)2016 A.R.N. Publications

Spectacular Story!

Elizabeth Gaskell has a unique talent for writing characters that will pull at your heartstrings, and ‘North and South’ is no different. Though not as famous as authors like Charlotte Brontë and Jane Austen, Gaskell’s writing skills are as good, if not better than, those traditionally studied in English literature classes. Her narratives challenge the norm in Victorian society, drawing readers into the drama.

North and South follows the story of Margaret Hale who returns to her rural home after spending time with her rich aunt to learn how to become a proper woman. However, shortly after she returns home, Margaret’s family is uprooted, and Margaret soon finds herself surrounded by a worker’s uprising. Through Margaret, Gaskell accurately portrays the workers’ conditions in Victorian England, painting a vivid picture in the listeners mind.

Many Victorian themes can be found in Gaskell’s work, but she is also known for the way she challenged traditions and societal expectations. Her portrayal of women and the poor during this time period go against general expectations, putting this in line with works like Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice. Gaskell’s smooth prose is definitely something that anyone studying Victorian or English literature should be exposed to.

The narrator for this particular version of North and South, Kate Petrie, adds to the overall nature of the novel. Her British accent accurately fits the speaker of the novel itself, giving the reader a full experience that is sure to engulf them in the narrative.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Thoroughly enjoyed

I wanted to read more! I had a difficult time trying to put the book down.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Brilliant

I couldn't stop listening. I love the storyline in general (and I'm not a big love story fanatic). The reading is well done and the author brilliant.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great Listening From Start to Finish

Where does North and South rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among my top 20 percent of over 100 books.

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

I would not wish to compare this book to others. But I would suggest The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

What about Kate Petrie’s performance did you like?

Excellent.

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

When Margaret stands up to Mrs.Thornton is entertaining.

North and South

Excellent story, beautifully read. Portrays well the diffence in class in northern towns in the past.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Excellent narration

What did you like most about North and South?

It was very well written and gives the reader insights into deprivation in the 19th century England.

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

I would probably compare North and South to Jane Eyre. This is due to the individuality of the protagonists (Margaret in North and South and Jane in Jane Eyre). Both are individual characters that strive for their best interests.

What does Kate Petrie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Both the Northern accent for the Northerners (Milton) and the Southern accent of (Helstone) Hampshire - this creates a sense of realism for the reader.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I think this novel had emotions feelings associated with the events of Miss Hale's family, however I felt satisfied with the ending.