A review by jessicamusch
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

As a classic, I didn’t expect this book to be so easy to read, but was pleasantly surprised that it was easy to follow and pretty fast paced, with multiple character povs. The story is dynamic, centring on an aristocratic parishioners family who have fallen from grace and been forced to move to an industrial city, where the protagonist Margaret Hale meets many interesting characters. I found the chapters on the strike particularly compelling in the portrayal of developing labor relations. The romance was also really sweet and believable.