North and South

By: Elizabeth Gaskell

Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson

Exclusively from Audible

Written at the request of Charles Dickens, North and South is a book about rebellion; it poses fundamental questions about the nature of social authority and obedience. Gaskell expertly blends individual feeling with social concern, and her heroine, Margaret Hale, is one of the most original creations of Victorian literature.

When Margaret Hale's father leaves the Church in a crisis of conscience she is forced to leave her comfortable home in the tranquil countryside of Hampshire and move with her family to the fictional industrial town of Milton in the north of England. Though at first disgusted by her new surroundings, she witnesses the brutality wrought by the Industrial Revolution and becomes aware of the poverty and suffering of the local mill workers. Sympathetic to the poor she makes friends among them and develops a fervent sense of social justice. She clashes with the mill-owner and self-made man, John Thornton, who is contemptuous of his workers. However, their fierce opposition masks a deeper attraction.

Gaskell based her depiction of Milton on Manchester, where she lived as the wife of a Unitarian minister. She was an accomplished writer, much of her work published in Charles Dickens' magazine Household Words including North and South which was originally published as a serial. She was also friends with Charlotte Brontë and after her death, her father, Patrick Brontë, chose Gaskell to write The Life of Charlotte Brontë.

Narrator Biography

Whether she's up on stage, behind the microphone or in front of the camera, Juliet Stevenson never fails to charm her audience...whoever they may be. Acting roles in Truly, Madly Deeply, Emma, Bend It like Beckham and Mona Lisa Smile have cemented her status as one of the great British actresses of our time. Meanwhile, her popular performances of hits such as Apple Tree Yard, the book that was turned into a TV series that people just couldn't stop talking about, have earned her an overwhelming amount of well-deserved praise for her spoken word talents.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[An] admirable story...full of character and power." (Charles Dickens)

Masterful performance of an excellent book.

Juliet Stevenson is absolutely amazing. She doesn't narrate, she performs. Her male voices are as believable and pleasing to listen to as her female voices. The story itself is very engaging. The heroine is a strong character in difficult circumstances. The discussions of labor/management relations are very interesting and seem very advanced for the time. There are some great explorations of religious belief and unbelief that are deftly handled by the author. She is skilled at presenting both sides of an argument. I highly recommend this book as succeeding on both emotional and intellectual levels.

I loved this book!

Silly me, I thought Ms. Gaskell was a modern writer who had mastered Austin-like prose and turn of phrase and wanted to write and tell her how much I loved this book! Well, I still loved this book and found the story interesting and insightful. I loved Mr. Bell and was sorry he wasn't more in the story. Like all good romances, the tension was high and readers are anxious for an end to tension while at the same time not wanting the story to end. I was certainly satisfied!


I can't say enough about Juliette Stevenson, the reader! She is on a par with Barbara Rosenblatt who heretofore has been my favorite.

One of my all time favorites!

I love this story and come back to it again and again. The characters feel so real and relatable. The relationships and events feel authentic. I find different things to think on with each listen. Juliet Stevenson does a great job with all the voices and accents. Highly recommended.

A book to surpass my obsession with Pride and Prejudice

Gorgeous and so much more rich a story of first impressions - with the backdrop of England's trade boom.

Memorable

Would you listen to North and South again? Why?

Absolutely! This was my first experience with Elizabeth Gaskell and it was a thoroughly rewarding one. I love the way she handled both sides of the labor issues, creating a story so much more nuanced than Dickens's Hard Times, and consequently so much more powerful. Plus, Gaskell gives us well-developed characters and a gorgeous romance just as powerful as Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

What was one of the most memorable moments of North and South?

There are many but the ending was so passionate and sweet that it constricts my heart every time I think of it.

Have you listened to any of Juliet Stevenson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Juliet Stevenson is always brilliant, but in this case, she is particularly outstanding.

You'll like like it is a full-cast audiobook!

love it so very much... I cried, I felt the characters pain and struggls through Juliet Stevenson's acting... I am amazed by it!

Wonderful book and amazing performance

This is one of my favorite books, made even more so by Juliet Stevenson's wonderful performance. As always, she does a fantastic job with the various voices, tone and pacing. The audible narration really brings the book and characters to life.

Amazing!

It is similar to a Jane Austin story but it has its own merits! Wonderful!

Listened, read, watched--many times

Where does North and South rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Number 1. This was the ultimate read for me in the last year or so. Absolutely adore this book--audible, text and BBC production. Everythibg about it is enjoyable. I've recommend it to all the readers I know, It's probably not for everyone, but I will read it and listen to it over and over. Already have.

What was one of the most memorable moments of North and South?

There were so many. Every chapter was memorable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Most obviously, I think, was when Thornton proposed and was rejected.

Any additional comments?

It's just a great listen.

Excellent narration

I chose this audio book based on previous experience with the narrator and was not disappointed in her nor the author. A long work that although serious seemed too quickly finished.