genre: fictionSo, this is NOT the North and South of Patrick Swayze and the Civil War. No no. That is the first thing I learned. This is North and South ENGLAND, which makes for just as compelling of a story. In the South, we have the most pastoral, agricultural and slow-paced life that our protagonist Margaret is used to. In the more frantic-paced, manufacturing North, we have the swoon-worthy Mr. Thornton, mill-owner and self-made man.
Our story follows Margaret as she ends up moving from South to the North, encountering Mr. Thornton and an actively antagonistic relationship begins. Margret's headstrong and sensitive nature clash against Mr. Thornton's more level-headed business sense. Pride reigns on both sides and of course, it's the hope of their eventual love that keeps you reading, a la Pride and Prejudice.
What I appreciated about this story is, not only the romantic storyline, but also Margret's journey as a woman, as she comes to understand both the faults of her native South as well as the merit's of Mr. Thornton's North. She meets interesting characters (some more well-rounded than others) and becomes inadvertently involved in labor troubles in the town. We're given a crash-course in the logistics of Unions and strikes and everyone is affected in some way. Margaret experiences great loss and the tragedy seems endless. It didn't depress me, somehow, all that tragedy. Margaret is strong and resourceful and works through her grief in a strikingly realistic way.
A book of 500+ pages, it's not for everyone. But if books of the Pride and Prejudice genre thrill you and you're willing to spend some pages learning about England's labor movement in the process, this is not one to miss.
book 5 of 5 for the Classics Challenge 2010
4 comments:
you finished! so glad you liked it! i'm looking forward to discussing it this month.
This is the next pick for one of my book clubs. I generally have a hard time with 19th-century literature, but I'm committed to trying this one. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it. If all else fails, I'll be watching the film version. :)
And, NOW, you have to watch the BBC miniseries and swoon over the best, longest-coming, wonderfullest kiss ever. Oh, and Richard Armitage. :-D
I really ought to read this someday.
I am with Melissa .... one of my favourite BBC productions is North and South ..... And Richard Armitage is totally gorgeous :) ........ AHHHHH ........
Post a Comment