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.

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.

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.

A Transcendent Story

North and South is a bright beauty of a story!

This breathtaking work eclipses time, change, and much great literature of the period. A spiritual core pervades this story of social commentary and Margaret Hale’s growing awareness, yet with a captivating naturalness and lack of pretension.

The story is charged with color, place and compelling characters, while pitch-perfect narration weaves an atmosphere both subtle and intense.

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!

I loved it as much as Pride & Prejudice! (Which is my favorite book.)

Wonderful story, lovely writing, excellent performance. It’s like a Jane Austen novel, but with the female lead being even more modern and independent. (Elizabeth B. was ahead of her time, I’m sure.) It was so exciting to read for the first time, that I cannot quite regret not having read it before.