North and South (version 3)
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Read by MaryAnn
North and South is set in the fictional industrial town of Milton in the North of England. Forced to leave her home in the tranquil rural south, Margaret Hale settles with her parents in Milton where she witnesses the brutal world wrought by the industrial revolution and employers and workers clashing in the first organized strikes. Sympathetic to the poor whose courage and tenacity she admires and among whom she makes friends, she clashes with John Thornton, a cotton mill manufacturer who belongs to the nouveaux riches and whose contemptuous attitude to workers Margaret despises. (Summary from Wikipedia)
Chapters
Reviews
Beautiful
Clover
This is such a beautiful novel. It tends to take me a while to get into Gaskell's stories and at times this one felt a little slow, but it's so very worth it. The social and political aspects of the novel are fascinating, and it's one of the best love stories I've ever read. The combination of politics and romance is unusual and really makes North and South unique. It's stayed with me and become one of my favourites. Mary Ann's reading is wonderful too. Can't recommend it enough! :)
Beautifully read
Prashanthi
Beautifully read. No comparison to other recordings. Very pleased.
Adrienne
What beautiful reading! MaryAnn did a splendid job with the text and in particular with the very difficult Yorkshire accent. My only criticisms are in the last page. There should have been a slight pause before she read ‘How shall I ever tell Aunt Shaw?’ she whispered, after some time of delicious silence. Also, the intonation in the word ‘That’ in ‘That man!’ and ‘That woman!’ wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I would have preferred a higher and stronger intonation on the word ‘That’, followed by an element of surprise and lower tone in the accompanying ‘man!’ and ‘woman!’ However, despite the Canadian (?) accent which I soon became thoroughly accustomed to, I enjoyed this reading immensely. Many thanks!!
draught does not = drawt
eck
I love this narrator's voice and change in accents with the different characters, but I can't give her 5 stars because she mispronounces the word "draught" over and over. If you're going to read older books, you really must understand the old spelling. "Draught" is the old/British spelling for "draft," as in a draft beer, or a draft of air. "Draught" rhymes with "raft", not "ought."
SUPERB!
Joyce
I have read North and South a number of times throughout my 71 years of life as well as watched the BBC production of it. It has always been a favorite, but I got more enjoyment listening to this excellent reading than ever before. The dialogues are beautifully done and the emotions of the characters can be felt. Thank you, Mary Ann, and thank you, Libravox!
Brilliant!
A LibriVox Listener
Another great book! came here after listening to Wives and Daughters. it does end abruptly, but the more I think on it, the more I actually appreciate it! The author spends her time on the substance and so once at the end, all though I wanted it to continue, was delicious and filling. A great writer! and very well read, thank you!
First time listener
A LibriVox Listener
This is the first time I've heard North and South and the first time I've heard Mary Anne and I loved them both! She's done a great job at captivating all of my senses so that I would forget that there was only one narrator! Will be looking for more books read by her.
Classic literature and a fascinating story!
Margaret Davis
North and South traces the story of young Margaret Hale as she moves from her beloved Hellstone to Milton, a manufacturing town. There, the complex relationships between bosses and workers, masters and men, lower class and higher class, is highlighted and explored. From there, I imagine, the title is taken. Among all the ups and downs, the gains and tragic losses, the protagonist grows in her Christian character and morals (although as a side note, it is unclear which church/denomination she and her family are in.) This classic novel provides rich description, ample change and action (but not much mystery), and a little romance. Personal opinions follow, spoilers may be included: Now, I almost gave this book four stars just for the brief ending, then I decided that that wasn’t fair, and there may be certain appeal in a book ending without every aspect “properly” concluded. After all, it was a lovely read and it did end happily. However, I was a little annoyed how all the suspense of the two lovers that started early in the book, all the reasons that kept them apart for so long, finally come together in the last minutes of the book! I wanted some sort of honest conversation between the lovers (or even the author’s narration) in review and conclusion to everything that the book involved. What becomes of the young lawyer, Henry Lennox, who was once in love with her? And what are the reactions of John Thornton’s mother and sister in relation to their coming together? Where do they end up living? Does Mr. Thornton’s business become successful and viable again? As for Margaret’s brother Frederick, is he ever cleared from charges and will Margaret see him and his wife again? These are questions which some authors would answer before concluding, but then again, John and Margaret are together, and that’s what matters :)