North and South

Penguin Classics

By: Elizabeth Gaskell

Narrated by: Gemma Whelan

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Gemma Whelan, best known for her roles in Game of Thrones, Gentleman Jack and Upstart Crow. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Patricia Ingham.

When her father leaves the Church, Margaret Hale is uprooted from her comfortable home in Hampshire to move with her family to the North of England. Initially repulsed by the ugliness of her new surroundings in the industrial town of Milton, Margaret becomes aware of the poverty and suffering of local mill workers and develops a passionate sense of social justice.

In North and South Gaskell skillfully fused individual feeling with social concern and in Margaret Hale created one of the mostoriginal heroines of Victorian literature.

Public Domain (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Excellent story and narration

Captivating portrait of the compassionate Margaret Hale set against the backdrop of northern versus southern societies. I learned so much about the thinking and tensions of the early industrial revolution in England and appreciated how deeply the story immerses readers into that era.

Narration was clear, easy to follow, and ever so pleasant to listen to.

The misunderstandings of culture

A great look into the misunderstandings of three cultures come together with a harsh clacks. All disinterested in learning the other, until their lives depend on it. And the wonderful move towards mutual assimilation, acceptance, friendship, and love.

Loved it

The story was super good and the performance was amazing! Maybe a bit long but oh well. And the ending! I loved the ending!

wonderful!! a great story that's not just romantic

I found this book because I first saw the BBC miniseries based upon it. While rewatching it a while back I realized the book existed. And I'm so glad I bought it. It's a fantastic story even better than the show which was already awesome. But the reason I loved this book so much is that it gives you so much more. Margret is a great character. she's lovable and very human, she's a good person but of course she makes mistakes but admits them. And seeing her grow is a pleasure and very satisfactory to watch. Mr Thornton too, grows and is so sweet to watch especially in regards to his love for Margret. And if you've seen the show and admired the way it addresses class struggles and unions you'll like the way it handles it in the book. It's not quite as dramatic but that seems to be because it was written from the perspective of back then so its not as harsh a judgement. it doesn't try to force a happy ending, it's more open ended on if things will wide spread change for the better or not but I liked that because it seems more realistic. But the philosophical conversations upon ithose subjects are interesting to think about and enjoyable to hear. Even though I did have to go back and re-listen to those philosophical passages sometimes to make sure I understood(I recommend listening to the prologue) But that's more because of the old language than because of the Narrator. Gemma is a fantastic narrator. although there were a few times I didn't immediately realized someone else was talking but overall she's great with the voices and puts feeling into it. So overall it was a fantastic listen and I'll definitely be listening to it many more times.

loved!!!

i love this book. the narrator is wonderful and did a wonderful job of imitating the voices from the bbc rendition. unless you want a preface not included in the original book skip to chapter 2. dont hesitate get your self ths copy. you wont regret it!

Well read

I love this book, it depicts the class war and the manufacturing conditions of the time, and it is really well read and it is free.

Wonderful book, wonderful reader

Love this book, love the movie, love the audiobook more! So many more details are in the book, as usual, than the movie, though the casting really m a tches the visuals brouhht up by the book.

Great story and narration

Where has Elizabeth Gaskell been all my life? I’d never heard of her till PBS broadcast the Cranford miniseries. Silly me.... I wish I could say I’ve made up for lost time, but this is only the third book of hers I’ve read; I picked it largely because of yet another miniseries. It’s a wonderful book, with a bit of a Jane Austen flavor; but it’s a Jane Austen world where people die of cancer or risk being hanged for mutiny. Her central character, Margaret Hale, is vivid and convincing, and the characters that surround her only slightly less vivid. The conclusion is immensely satisfying.

I admit I picked Gemma Whelan as narrator because she’d been in Game of Thrones. She’s obviously quite experienced as a narrator who just, like Gaskell, hadn’t shown up on my radar yet. Loved her voice(s), loved her expressiveness; she’s now on my list of favorites.

(Plus the Penguin introduction, always a nice bonus....)

Wonderful

I absolutely loved this story! I was fascinated by the character development of Margaret Hale. Gemma Whelan's performance was perfect! I highly recommend this title!

a great historical fiction romance

the movie of the same name had a much better, enjoyable rendition of the end. If you liked the book, how rare, but the film told the authors message even more marvelously !