North and South: The 1855 Victorian Romance Classic (Annotated)

North and South is a captivating novel that explores the contrast between the values of rural southern England and the industrial north, with a psychological complexity that anticipates George Eliot’s later novels of provincial life.

The story follows Margaret Hale, who is uprooted from her comfortable home in Hampshire after her father leaves the church, as she settles with her parents in the fictional northern industrial town of Milton.

Throughout the novel, Margaret clashes with mill-owner and self-made man John Thornton, while fighting a growing attraction to him.

Gaskell creates one of the most unique and engaging heroines in Victorian literature, cleverly pairing personal relations with social issues.

This is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the contrast between rural and industrial England during the Victorian era, as well as those who appreciate complex characters and thought-provoking themes.