North and South (1855)

Fieldnotes:
Helstone, New Forest (South) & Milton (North), 1850s

1 Sensitive Southern Young Woman (Raised as a Gentlewoman)
1 Clergyman of Rather Inconvenient Conscience
1 Mother Given to Complaints
1 Overweening Servant

1 Career Change
1 Resented Change of Situation
1 Unyielding Northern Millowner
1 Young Friend Wasting Away of Mill-induced Lung Disease
1 Socially Conscious Union Man
1 Ugly Strike

1 Mutinous Brother in Great Peril of His Life
1 Protective Lie
1 Cancelled Inquest

2 Rejected Proposals
1 Spoiled Brat Matchmaking Cousin
6 Untimely Deaths

1 Rather Abrupt Happy Ending ( )

This is a lovely book that simultaneously draws you in to imagine the marvelous worlds of Margaret Hale, and forces you to stand back to consider and reconcile the contrasting opinions carried by the characters within. It is as much a bildungsroman as it is a romance, because the protagonist suffers through hardship, and grows and matures as she comes to understand the world around her. On the other hand, most romances would also include important changes in the lives, and (if it is a very good book) character (or perception of the character) of the protagonist, just as a coming of age tale would.

I decided to read North and South after having seen the BBC miniseries, and was surprised at how much the two differed. Not only were there deviations in style and details, but some of the major plot events included in the miniseries were completely contrived, which was a disappointment (not that I was consequently disappointed in the book, of course). On the other hand, it was delightful to read most of the characters described in the book almost exactly as portrayed by the miniseries, including Margaret, Mr Hale, and Mr Thornton. I thoroughly enjoyed being privy to some of Mr Thornton's thoughts, and not only to Miss Hale's, as I believe would have been common for books of this nature. I also must admit that I found it necessary to reread some of the talk of factories and manufacturing in order to comprehend exactly what was being said.

My last point of admiration is that this book faithfully draws you ever forward to its conclusion, instead of thrusting it upon you at the very last. I appreciated the contrast between this book and one (any) of Jane Austen's, which tend to leave me with the slight feeling of being cheated out of those moments or processes leading up to the end. ( )

My new most favourite classic. This beats Pride and Prejudice by a mile. Seriously. I loved the book so much, I'm fairly speechless... ( )

North and South is not my kind of Victorian novel. True, the part about the class system and the labor strike was appealing, but there was just so much emotion and hand-wringing to get through. In the end, both Margaret and Mr. Thornton develop as characters, but it comes all at a rush in the end. I feel that Gaskell's weakest area is pacing and structure. ( )

Perhaps the least convincing marriage plot in the history of marriage plots, until Eugenides' Marriage Plot. A great middle third, but hoo boy, that last third is awful. ( )