I read this for the first time in 2000, while driving around the UK and reread it, er, yesterday :-). I don't remember thinking this before, but this time I was struck by parallels between 'North and South' and 'Pride and Prejudice', particularly (mostly) in terms of the relationship between Margaret Hale and John Thornton. They start with very different outlooks and positions, Mr Thornton fall in love first, leading to a rejected proposal, and Margaret comes to appreciate Thornton after he has performed a service for her, and feels she is unworthy of him.

There's lots of differences too. 'North and South' is obviously more political than P&P. There's a lot of social commentary about the plight of the working man and the (advent??) of the industrial revolution -and some interesting comparisons between North and South (and similar biases still exist today, I think!) The story is quite melodramatic - there's a lot of death, a strike, and some fleeing from the law - quite different from the generally light hearted (if sharp) wit of Jane Austen. Mr Thornton is a lot more passionate than Mr Darcy, and whereas I might have found this a bit eye rolling in other books, Mr Thornton was gripping and, er, hott! Gaskell's ending is very neat, in terms of the shift in financial power and, finally, rather sweet and droll. A good read and I think probably pretty sexy for it's time (but I still like P&P better).

removed from the 1001 book bag

it was on the reading list for women's fiction reading group before i joined it and having read all of jane austen's books this past year i will be interested in the parallels you suggest kll

thanks for sharing
;-)

look what i found in the deepest crevices of the bookshelves...

happy reading

;)

Received, thank you! I also appreciated the nice old-fashioned letter, to which I will most certainly respond. I have lent this to a friend, as I am still reading A Christian Peace Experiment, by Ian Randall.

An interesting read: part love story, part social commentary. Also a great insight into the early industrial revolution in England. I enjoyed it a lot.

Next, I will read The Hidden Life of Trees, by Peter Wohlleben, which a friend has been urging me to read for a while.

Thanks for this book which I received today, readinghelps - have wanted to read this for a long time! I'll release it after I do so. Thanks also for the lovely card accompanying the book - much appreciated :) And big thanks to KLL for releasing it in 2007 too.