Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

North and South Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

North and South is an English novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell. It belongs to the Victorian era and was gradually completed in a period of 22 installments. It was published weekly in the magazine Household Words, directed by Charles Dickens, during the period from September 1854 to January 1855.

The story is told at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Europe, the same time that the novel was started and finished. This is why it was a book that had a great impact at the time.

The main character is Margaret Hale, a beautiful, astute and cultured young woman of 19 years old, who after living for several years surrounded by the high aristocracy in Harley Street, London, with her aunt Shaw and her cousin Edith, returns to her small and humble hometown, Helstone, in the south of England.

Despite Margaret's father's hard work at the church, they have little income. Her mother, Mary Hale, complains about the lack of comforts, and Dixon, the maid, also misses her old life in high society. Her older brother lives in exile. However, despite having to deal with various family problems, Margaret finds peace and happiness in her small town.

Unfortunately, a few days after her return she finds the sad news that she and her family have to move to the great industrialized city of Milton, in the north of England, due to her father's separation from the Church in the county where he worked as a vicar.

When they arrive in Milton, life does not become very favorable, and even less so with the economic and social problems they have to face, either because of their sudden arrival and the little work their father gets as a private teacher, or because of their southern education, which will be one of the biggest obstacles they will have to face. They also have to deal with the problems that arise between workers and employers.

Margaret is suffocated by different situations that lead her to mature and build a stronger character to defend her beliefs and her views. Especially when talking about Mr. Thornton, a friend and close student of her father, a full citizen of Milton, with whom she will have many altercations, discussions and misunderstandings.