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Elizabeth Gaskell

North and South

Elizabeth GaskellFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1854

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Book Brief

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Elizabeth Gaskell

North and South

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1854
Book Details
Pages

521

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Milton, England • 1850s

Publication Year

1854

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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Super Short Summary

In North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, Margaret Hale moves with her family from the rural South of England to the industrial town of Milton in the North, where the stark differences in social class and working conditions deeply affect her. She meets John Thornton, a wealthy mill owner, and becomes torn between her sympathy for the plight of the mill workers and her growing attraction to Thornton. The story explores themes of social change, class conflict, and personal growth as Margaret navigates her new environment and complex relationships. The novel includes intense depictions of illness and industrial strife.

Contemplative

Romantic

Emotional

Nostalgic

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.3

182,552 ratings

79%

Loved it

15%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South receives praise for its vivid depiction of social class conflict and industrial North England. The romance and dynamic characters, especially the strong-willed Margaret Hale, are well-regarded. However, some find its pacing uneven, with prolonged industrial details potentially detracting from the narrative flow. Overall, it's a compelling social critique and character study.

Who should read this

Who Should Read North and South?

A reader who would enjoy North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell appreciates Victorian literature, social and class conflict, and strong character development. Fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre will find similar themes of romance and societal critique engaging.

4.3

182,552 ratings

79%

Loved it

15%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

521

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Milton, England • 1850s

Publication Year

1854

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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