Podcasts about Elizabeth Gaskell

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 24 "Mistakes Cleared Up", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:The following morning Margaret wakes up. She is by no means rested, but at least her mother only woke up once in the night. A light breeze is starting to blow, and Margaret is calmed and brightened by the thought of what a forest would look like in these conditions. She goes to sit with her mother while she is still sleeping and plans to go and see Bessy Higgins after dinner. Dixon comes in and tells her quietly that Mr. Thornton has come to visit and has asked for her. Reluctantly, Margaret goes downstairs.Mr. Thornton is anxiously waiting downstairs for Margaret. He thinks of her arms around his neck and is impatient for her to see him. He has no self-control left and needs to see her and hopes that she would fall into his arms. He does not know how she will receive his declaration. He fears a rejection and refuses to think of it. Margaret arrives and he takes in her complexion. She looks very tired, but that is normal after the blow she has received. Thornton steps forward and shuts the door behind her. Eventually he starts to talk, he excuses his ungratefulness the previous day, and Margaret shuts him down, saying that he has nothing to excuse himself for and says that she should excuse herself for forcing him to go down to the crowd. Margaret says that she will accept his thanks if he really believes it necessary. Thornton replies that he feels no obligation to but that he wants to thank her and finally declares his love for her.She responds icily to his declaration, saying that she is shocked by his words and does not understand it. She is offended by him and clarifies that her actions yesterday were not a declaration of love, and that a gentleman would understand that. He retorts that he is not a gentleman but a man and claims a right to express himself. With tears in her eyes she goes to say that of the whole crowd, Thornton was the person that she cared for the least and only went to him because he was alone, while they were many. He goes to say that she is unfair and just because he is a Master he doesn't have a right to suffer. While he could have defended himself further, he know that he could have thrown himself at her feet to ask for forgiveness. He collects his things and says one last thing before he goes, that he has never loved anyone before, and that he will continue to love her. Margaret thanks him for his kindness to her father and leaves him to go.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 23 "Mistakes", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Mr Thornton comes home after talking with his Irish workers. He instantly asks where Margaret has gone and is very shocked when his mother tells him that she is better, and has gone home. He asks more questions about Margaret, but his mother wishes to change the topic. He defends his Margaret from his mother and says that he doesn't know where he would be if she didn't come out to help him. Mrs. Thornton retorts that girls in love will do anything and is very shocked when she sees how her son reacts to her remark. She tries to go on with her business, but when she does start to talk again, her voice is a little feeble. He says that he will go out again, and tells his mother not to wait up for him. She says that she has to wait for him considering the events of the day. They go back and forth a little while he tries to explain that he wishes to go and check on Margaret and doesn't know what time he will be back. Mrs. Thornton begs him however no to go, and as she never begs her son for anything, he relinquishes and agrees to come back home as long as they send someone to go and ask about Margaret. They have tea, and just before he goes to leave, she talks quietly with him. She says that she knows what he has to do at the Hale residence, and that causes her son to finally snap and confess, in his own way, his feelings for Margaret, saying that he has little hope.At the Hale residence, Margaret comes home and sees her mother and father. They received a letter from Bessy Higgins, but they all agree that Margaret looks too tired for her to go. Mr. and Mrs. Hale go to bed, and Margaret finally allows herself to think about the events of the day. She asks herself why she went down to help him; the army was only a few minutes away. She did some good but cannot understand why she did it. Dixon comes in and tells her that a man has arrived with the waterbed and says too that he was instructed to ask how she was, but believes that the man must have been confused with her mother. Her father then comes in and tells her to go to bed.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 22 "A Blow and Its Consequences", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Margaret waits for a long time before anyone of the Thornton family comes to see her. Fanny eventually walks in apologising for the wait and tells her that her brother is with his new Irish workmen and women in the factory, trying to reassure them before the strikes get worse. Mrs. Thornton then comes in and looks incredibly stern. Mrs. Thornton doesn't seem to fully listen to Margaret when she asks for the waterbed, when she does respond, it is in response to the crashing sound of many bodies against the gates. John soon comes in and the crowd reacts with bloodlust as they hear Mr. Thornton's voice in his house. Margaret fears that she is a coward but forgets herself and only feels a deep sympathy. He tells his mother and the maid to get upstairs to safety. Margaret is watching at the window and then turns to Mr. Thornton to ask where his imported workers are. He responds that they are in the factory, but that it is not the workers that the crowd wants, but himself. His mother asks how long until the soldiers should arrive, he responds that it should still be 20 minutes. They shut the windows and then a sudden stillness arises. They stop and listen, the crowd is pushing with all of their might against the gate, and it eventually gives in, followed by the crowd. Mrs. Thornton and Fanny get upstairs and Margaret refuses to go with them.The faces of angry men are everywhere in the yard, and Margaret recognises the face of Mr. Boucher. As the crowd sees Mr. Thornton, they erupt into a beastly roar, startling even Mr. Thornton's cool reserve. He tells Margaret that they need only to wait 5 minutes more and the soldiers will be there. Margaret calls him out for his attitude, tells him to go and face these men like a man with kindness. A dark cloud comes across his face and he goes, only asking Margaret to bar the door behind him. The men in the yard look like savage beasts; they have children at home, like Boucher, and can't stand the thought of foreigners taking away their bread. Margaret feels like the crowd will reach its breaking point in a moment and she rushes outside, after she sees men reaching for projectiles. The men still their arms as they see this girl run out and place herself between them and their enemy. She tries to tell the men to calm themselves, but her voice dies away. Thornton moves from behind her. A man calls out asking if the Irish will be sent home and when Thornton replies that he will not send them back, the crowd explodes. Margaret tries to shield Thornton from the men's incoming projectiles, but he shakes her off. The first misses, the second flings a stone towards their mark hitting instead, Margaret causing Thornton to react. The men are silent while he speaks, watching the blood trickle down Margaret's head. It seems to knock sense into the men, and they start to back away. Mr. Thornton walks into the crowd, calling on the men to attack him if they are not cowards, but they leave, defeated. Thornton rushes to Margaret and carries her into the house. He calls for his mother to take care of her and he goes to check on his Irish workers. Mrs. Thornton goes to get a doctor...SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 21 "The Dark Night", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Margaret and her father walk home from the Thornton residence, feeling very happy. They talk together a little about the strike and Mr. Hale suggests that Thornton is anxious about the situation. When they get home, all joy they were feeling is ripped away from them by a look of horror on Dixon's face. They enter and find Dr. Donaldson taking care of Mrs. Hale. She has had a fit and is very, very unwell, and has been administered a sedative. Mr. Hale is finally informed of the state of his wife's health and is distraught by the terrifying news. He initially upset with Margaret for keeping it from him, but the Doctor tells him that it is he that is to blame, and not Margaret. The doctor tells Mr Hale to go to bed and leave the family alone. Everyone refuses to go to bed, so Dixon, Margaret, and her father watch over Mrs. Hale. Dixon eventually nods off, but Margaret watches carefully over her mother and responds to her father's questions. After her father goes to sleep too, Margaret reflects on Harley Street and Helstone, two places that she wishes she could go back to, to get away from the tragedies of the North. In the morning, it seems like the previous night was all but a dream. Mrs. Hale doesn't know how ill she was and is shocked to see Dr. Donaldson so early. After a few days, she gets permission to return to the drawing room, but that night, she becomes feverish again. Dr. Donaldson says that it is a reaction to the medicine that he has used and recommends that they try to find a waterbed for Mrs. Hale, stating that Mrs. Thornton has one she could maybe lend and asks Margaret if she could make the trip to Marlborough street to ask for it. In the afternoon, Margaret starts walking to the Thornton's, her head full of thoughts about her mother's health. She doesn't notice anything different about the streets, but around her, many people are heaving, and talking, and listening, while she moves through the streets. When she gets to Marlborough street however, she starts to feel the oppressive atmosphere, and as she gets to the Thornton's, the crowd starts to make its way towards the Factory. She is cautiously let in by the porter and is rushed into the house.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 20 "Men and Gentlemen", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Margaret goes home heavy hearted and wondering how she can keep a positive mindset to help her mother's morale. Her mother asks her about how Bessy is doing and reflects on how bad it must be to be sick while living in one of those back streets. Margaret breaks down and tells her mother about what she heard at the Higgins'. They then work together preparing a basket to send to them and the Bouchers. When Mr. Hale comes home, they talk about the Bouchers a little more and he promises to go and see the man and his family. The following day, Margaret prepares to go to the Thornton dinner, and reflects on her time in London, preparing for dinners with her cousin. Margaret doesn't really wish to go to the dinner but goes nonetheless to appease her mother. Margaret and her father are the first guests to arrive at the Thornton residence, where they are greeted by Mrs. Thornton and Fanny. Mr. Thornton is a little late with business, and his mother supplies conversation while they wait for their host and the other guests. Mrs. Thornton talks about how proud she is to be able to live next to her son's factory, where she can reflect on his greatness. When Thornton arrives, he asks them how Mrs. Hale is and tries to keep his cool while struck by Margaret's beauty. When the guests arrive, Fanny and Mrs. Thornton get distracted welcoming the guests, and Mr. Thornton notices that Margaret is being left alone, and though he doesn't go to talk to her himself, he watches he discretely the whole time before dinner. At dinner, the men talk amongst themselves, and the women remain mostly quiet. This gives Margaret an opportunity to listen to the conversation, and she finally sees Mr. Thornton in his element, where is his respected and where he has none of the awkwardness that she had seen before when they had interacted at her home. Margaret enjoys the dinner and listens to the conversations, eagerly learning many new things about Milton. After dinner, Margaret is bored until the men come back into the room. Mr. Thornton comes to talk with her, and they discuss the conversation at dinner and then what it means to be a gentleman. Thornton says that he doesn't really understand the term and prefers the term “a true man” or “a man.” Thornton sees the term “Gentleman” as something that only applies to a man in his relationship to others, whereas “man” applies to the man as a whole. Before Margaret has time to respond, he is called away to talk with the other men. They are far enough away where Margaret can only get the gist of the conversation, but it seems to be about the strikes. The guest of honour, Mr. Horsfall, asks him about Margaret, the quiet, stately, beauty. Mrs. Slickson asks Fanny the same question.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 19 "Angel Visits", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Mrs. Hale is very excited about her husband and Margaret going to a dinner at Mr. Thornton's residence. She wants to know about all of the little details of the event and wants to help Margaret get ready. Margaret finds her mother's fretting funny and lets her mother help pick out her dress for her. Later, Margaret goes to see Bessy Higgins. Bessy is shocked by Margaret being invited to dine at the Thornton's and can't hide her feelings that Margaret is not wealthy enough to mingle with the upper society of Milton, which Margaret notices and responds to by saying that they are educated and know how to interact in society. Bessy is still shocked by it, saying that the Mayor dines there. Margaret talks a little about her dresses, saying that she never thought that she would have an opportunity to wear some of them, and Bessy begs to see her dressed up, and goes on a delirious recounting of having seen Margaret in a dream like an angel. Margaret tells her that it was only a dream, and she should not put too much meaning on it. Margaret then asks if her father has gone on strike yet, to which Bessy replies positively. He and many others have gone on strike. They are forgoing food to be on strike. Margaret asks if they really think that the strike is going to help, and Bessy explains what her father feels about the strike and as she finishes, her father walks through the door and confirms what he heard his daughter say. Mr. Hale is depressed by the tales of the working men and talks to Thornton about it. Mr. Thornton explains his case to Mr. Hale explaining that, in Margaret's understanding, commerce is everything and even makes her feel ungrateful for the medicine that he brings to help her mother. Margaret very much dislikes him.Margaret goes to visit Bessy Higgins the day before the dinner party and find a man called Boucher, lamenting to Mr Higgins about the dire state his family is it. He cannot afford to be on strike any longer. He says that the union promised that only 2 weeks would be required for the master's to give in to their 5%, but two weeks have nearly passed and not a single master has changed his mind. Boucher's story is fully of emotion, and both Bessy and Margaret are incredibly moved by it. Margaret tells Bessy that she will give what money she can to help these people. Bessy says that she would like to see these men refuse Boucher if they were to speak to him. Bessy is getting sicker and sicker, and the girl claims that death is not far off. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 18 "Likes and Dislikes", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:When Margaret returns home, she finds two letters on the table and starts to read one of them, from her aunt, when her father walks in and asks about the doctor's visit. Margaret is avoidant, causing her father to worry a little and press her for more information. Margaret sees that her father is worried for his wife, and during that evening, he constantly brings the conversation around to his wife's health. After supper, he paces back and forth worrying for his wife and then goes to see her. When she wakes up, he goes to read the letters to her, the other one is from Mrs. Thornton, asking them to a dinner. Though Mrs. Hale is too ill to attend, she insists on her husband and daughter going. The following day, Mr. Hale and Margaret discuss this dinner a little more together before going about their days.At the Thornton residence, Mr. Thornton asks his mother which guests are going to be attending the dinner. Mr. Thornton tells his mother that he is very worried for Mrs. Thornton after what Dr. Donaldson told him. Fanny tries to jest with her brother about the Hale family but only ends up vexing him. Mrs. Thornton gives her opinion on the family which vexes John too, but he doesn't react to his mother's comments. Fanny then says that Margaret is not accomplished, “she does not play.” After all this, John tells his mother that he wishes she would like Margaret… His mother asks if he is thinking about marrying her, “a girl without a penny,” to which he replies that she would never have him even if he did want her. Mrs. Thornton then says that she has too high an opinion of herself to accept her son. He closes the conversation by saying that he believes that Margaret could soon be in need of motherly care. The conversation then turns to the strikes. Mr. Thornton's men have not yet struck and will work out their week; if they were to leave their posts beforehand, he would take them all to court for breech of contract. Mrs. Thornton suggests that he gets replacement workers from Ireland to spite his disrespectful workers. He says that the Americans are getting cheaper fabric into the market and thus need to pay everyone less to be able to compete, but the workers don't know this. Mrs. Thornton apologises for choosing to host a dinner while all of this is going on, which her son agrees with, but it had to be done. After everyone else goes to bed, Mr. Thornton stays awake thinking and pacing.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 17 "What is a Strike?", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Margaret is really not feeling like going out but eventually livens up a little in the hustle and bustle of the Milton streets. She decides to go and see Bessy Higgins. Nicholas is there when she goes in and offers her a chair, while she asks Betty how she is. Bessy doesn't like the strike, and this is the 3rd one she has seen. Nicholas is adamant that this one will be the final one, the good one. Margaret asks them what a strike is. Margaret tells them that if people down south struck, then no seed would be sown, and no hay would be reaped. Nicholas doesn't seem to be bothered by this but eventually says that he doesn't know enough about the south but has heard that the men down south are all too soft to strike, compared to the Northen men. Bessy says that she wishes she lived down south, causing Margaret to tell her that there are problems down there too. Nicholas gets a little riled up about people not willing to fight for what they deserve. Nicholas eventually says that there are several masters in town that have told them that they are going to offer lower wages than they had over the last 2 years, so then workers are going to strike; why should they do the same works for less. He goes on to say that he is striking not only for himself, but for everyone else. He is taking up the cause for everyone who cannot work. Margaret asks him to ask the masters why they are offering less, believing that they will freely tell. Nicholas laughs this off, and says that the masters would never reveal why, as they believe that they have no need to tell the hands what is going on. He then mentions Mr Thornton's name. Margaret ask to know what Thornton is like as a master. Nicholas describes the man as a bulldog; the moment he gets a hold of a notion he will not let go of it. Bessy wishes that there would be talk of other, happier things in her happier days, and she mentions that tobacco smoke chokes her. Nicholas puts his pipe out and then leaves the girls to talk alone. Bessy asks Margaret if she is a fool for letting her father go out like that, she knows that he is going to go and drink. There are days here where people just go through the motions, hoping for change, and people will do something different, like drink, or eat, just hoping for something different in their mouth or their minds. Bessy doesn't blame people for doing these things but wishes that things weren't like they were. There are many reasons for people to get mad during a strike and they will turn to worse actions. Bessy says that Margaret does not know anything about strikes, and this is just the beginning. Margaret tells Bessy to be careful; she has issues too. Margaret says that she has to go home to her sick mother and pretends to her father that everything is fine. Bessy then goes on a religious tangent about revelations, and Margaret begs her to focus on the clearer passages and not the prophecies. Margaret leaves to go home, thanking Bessy for talking to her about her grievances. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 16 "The Shadow of Death", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:A doctor has finally come to see Mrs. Hale, but in spite of how close Margaret and her mother have become, Margaret is not permitted to be in the room with the doctor and her mother. Margaret goes into her mother's room to wait for the doctor to finish. She hears all sorts of concerning sounds from her mother and then the sound of scraping chairs. The doctor closes the room behind Mrs. Hale and Margaret goes to ask him questions. He is very hesitant to respond at first, Mrs. Hale asked him not to tell her about state of her health, but Margaret is very persistent. He eventually submits, and tells Margaret calmly, but sadly, that Mrs. Hale is very ill and does not have terribly long left. Margaret is distraught and tries to calm herself enough to ask more questions in spite of her tears. He says that he will come back to check on her mother and lets Margaret know that she must look at him as a friend and not just a doctor, it is the only way to go forwards. Following the doctor's departure, Margaret goes into her mother's room and takes her mother's hand, letting her know that the doctor told her the truth of her illness. Mrs. Hale is very upset with her but does not let go of Margaret's hand. Margaret begs her mother to let her act as a nurse, saying that she will learn whatever she can from Dixon, but Mrs. Hale is very caution of this. They then talk of Helstone, and while Mrs. Hale admits that she never really liked the place, the thought of never seeing it again greatly upsets her, but the idea of never being able to see her son, Frederick, again force the tears out. Margaret calls to Dixon for help. After Mrs. Hale has been calmed, Dixon and Margaret talk about her mother's sickness, and Dixon tells Margaret that she must not tell her father the real extent of Mrs. Hale's sickness; Margaret never intended to do so, not right away, but this conversation managed to mend the relationship between Margaret and Dixon. Dixon tells Margaret to go on a walk to recover herself before Mr. Hale comes home.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 15 "Masters and Men", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Mr Hale and Margaret go to repay a visit to Mrs. Thornton. Mr Hale finally starts to talk about his wife's health which Margaret likes, having been worried about his nonchalance. He is worried about her and feels scared that their coming to Milton will be the death of her. Margaret tries to calm him a little, but they are nonetheless both worried. When they arrive in the Marlborough Street, they are shocked to not find a large stately house, considering the wealth of Mr. Thornton. Asking a passer by, they find out that Mr. Thornton resides in the house that connects to his factory. The walls are darkened by the smoke of the factory, but inside the house, everything is perfectly clean and white, spotless. The two talked quietly together before being joined by Mrs. Thornton. Margaret tried to explain to the woman that her mother was not well enough to come, but because she tried to explain it in a way that wouldn't make her father more worried either, she give the impression to Mrs. Thornton that Mrs. Hale could have made the effort if she could be bothered to. They talk about Mr. Thornton, and his mother declares that she doesn't see the point in her son taking up his studies again; he should focus on his business. A man should focus on maintaining his place amongst the ranks of the merchants, and her son is known all over Europe amongst the merchant class. Mr. Hale and Margaret had never heard of him before Mr. Bell told them of him. Mrs. Thornton picked up on this and asked them flat out if they knew about him. They end up saying that Mr. Bell told them of her son. Mrs. Thornton then brings up the topic of a strike that is going to be taking place in the city of Milton. Her son is going to be incredibly busy dealing with it. Later, Mr. Thornton goes to join the Hales at their place of residence to give them a doctor's name and address. Margaret thanks him deeply. Mr. Hale brings up the strike. Mr. Thornton explains what is happening and goes on to explain that the workers do not know what is going on behind the scenes, the only thing that they care about is that their wages are not being increased, they have no idea that the business are struggling more than in previous years. He says also have no right to know what a businessman does with his money, and that they shouldn't care about it either. Margaret test him on this but also claims that she knows so little about economics that she cannot properly push him on the subject. They go back and forth a little bit and then Margaret brings up someone abusing the masters and Mr. Thornton presser her asking who she heard saying such things. Margaret goes back and says that if workers are kept ignorant, then it is better for the Masters. Mr. Hale tries to get his daughter to be quiet, as he hears Mr. Thornton getting offended. Mr. Thornton then tries to explain his position further and goes to say that he wishes to work to benefit both his workers and himself, but he feels no need to explain his actions to them. Mr. Thornton then leaves saying goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Hale, and then to Margaret after privately apologising to her for his tone of voice.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 14 "The Meeting", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Margaret and her mother are growing closer in her illness, and Margaret is finally feeling like she has the place she always wanted. One evening when Mr. Hale is out, her mother starts to talk of Margaret's brother Fredrick. There was a terrible storm the previous night, and every time there is a storm, Mrs. Hale claims that she can only think of Fredrick on a ship somewhere in the sea. She says that she is very glad that he is now on shore again. Margaret asks where he is based now, and her mother responds that he is somewhere in Spain, but that he has taken the name of Dickenson, so that he cannot be recognised. Margaret asks properly, for the first time, what truly happened. Mrs. Hale sends Margaret to her cabinet to get some letters from Fredrick. Margaret starts to read the letters, but her mother takes over and tells her what happened. Fredrick was put onto a ship called the Orian where he worked under a man called Mr Ried, whom he did not like. Later he was put on another ship called the Russell, where said Mr. Ried was in command. Fredrick promised that he would try to get along with the captain, but it seems that Mr Ried is a very strict captain. One letter tells how Mr. Ried threatened to flog the last sailor to climb down from the rigging, and the men, terrified of the beating that would await them raced down as fast as they could. The highest man decided it would be quicker for him to jump and try to catch a rope on his way down, but he missed and hit the deck instead. Mrs. Hale says that they only received this news after the mutiny. That captain Ried was sent off to drift in a boat with a few men while the rest set off to be pirates. Mrs. Hale was certain that her Fredrick would be with Mr Ried and that his surname had just been misspelled in the newspaper. When Mr. Hale came back from collecting the paper that day he was so stunned that he could hardly speak, and when Mrs. Hale read that paper, the was so disgusted by what was written about her son that she ripped it up, even with her teeth. She is certain that he son was innocent in the affair, and even if he wasn't, she is prouder of him for defending the innocents than letting people be bullied. Margaret then asks if it would be possible for her brother to come home one day to which Mrs. Hale tearfully responds that he would be hanged if he were to ever come back to England. On announcing this, Mrs. Hale turns away from her daughter, too hurt by the thought of her son's punishment.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 13 "Soft Breeze In A Sultry Place", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Margaret goes to the Higgins' house to spend as much time and she can with Bessy. Mary, her sister, has tried to tidy the house but she hasn't done a very good job of it. Bessy it not doing well and is laying on a short sofa in the living room. Bessy asks Margaret about her clothes and is stunned when Margaret says that she got them from London. Margaret then tells Bessy about Helstone, the first time she has talked about it since they came to Milton. She describes the birds, the farmers, and the trees and Bessy listens attentively. Bessy says that she used to believe that if she just had one day to relax in a place like Helstone, then she would have gotten better. She is afraid that she would even need time to rest before going to heaven. Bessy has an attack of Hysteria from her illness and nearly attacks Margaret but is soon out of breath and Margaret calms her down. Margaret says that she is not afraid of Bessy after what happened. Bessy says that she was well before her mother passed away, but after that, she was forced to work, and in a carding mill, her lungs got full of the fluff from cutting the cards. Bessy says that many people get sick from it, and that she isn't the only one sick. She says too that there are sorts of fans that millers can buy to help get rid of the dust, but because it doesn't bring a profit, they don't get bought. She had to work to help send her sister to school, and her father had a habit of going to costly lectures and now she is sick… Bessy then asks if Margaret could become friends with her sister too. Margaret says that she can, but it would be difficult to get Mary a job in her own home to stop her from going to the Mills. At home and as time goes on, Mrs. Hale is getting sicker. Mr. Hale wishes to dismiss his wife's illness, but he knows that she is sick. Margaret wishes to send for a doctor, but he doesn't want to, believing that his wife would tell him if she needed one. He knows however that his wife is indeed ill and just doesn't want to think about it potentially being his fault for bringing his family to Milton. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 12 "Morning Calls", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreadshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Mr. Thornton has some difficulties in convincing his mother to visit the Hale's. Though he bought her a carriage to make her life easier, she refused to let him keep horses. She didn't think that she would make enough visits to warrant the price. He rents horses for her for the day. Mrs. Thornton's relationship with her children is strange, though she uses terms like “dear” and “love” with her daughter and only calls her son “John,” and talks to him as if he were just a normal person, not her son, she cares far more for her son than her sickly daughter. The following day, Mrs. Thornton tells her daughter, Fanny, that she is going to have horses for the day and asks if she would like to see the nurse. Fanny says that she has a headache and would prefer if the nurse could come to visit her at home. When John enters, he tells his sister that she will, regardless of headache, be visiting the Hales with her mother. He leaves before she can try to protest. Mrs. Thornton is curious as to why her son wishes them to meet these Hales so much.At the Hale's, Mrs. Thornton notices that place is full of knickknacks, and notes to herself that it must be a lot of time-consuming work to dust everything, and that for people with little income, time spent is money wasted. Mrs. Thornton sits with Mrs. Hale, and Fanny with Margaret. Fanny asks lots of questions to Margaret about music and seems to be testing Margaret's patience as she gives rather cold answers. Fanny asks her then if she has ever been to London, and when Margaret says that she lived there for several years, Fanny is full of glee, saying that she would love to be able to go there. Margaret is confused as to why she has never been there, but Fanny says that her mother won't let her go there, she is too attached to Milton. On this, Mrs. Thornton asks why the girls are speaking about her. Fanny gives a response that vexes Margaret. Mrs. Thornton then presses Margaret to know what she knows of Milton, whether she has been to nay of the factories. Margaret says that she does not really care for factories. Mrs. Thornton is very proud of Milton and says that if Margaret will consider lowering herself to visit one, then a visit could indeed be arranged. Later on, in the cab Mrs. Thornton says that they shall maintain a civil relationship with the family but warns her daughter against becoming close with Margaret. Fanny says that she does not need to worry about that. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 11 "First Impressions", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Mr. Hale talks to his family about Mr Thornton, and he says to his daughter that he half expected her to run away when he mentioned that he was a shop-boy. Margaret disagrees with her father and says that this was actually the only point of his story that he liked and respected. Mr. Hale then tells his family more about Mr. Thornton's childhood, what he heard from Mr Bell. It was a very hard childhood, but he did his best to make up for his father's debts and in the end paid all of his father's debts off. Margaret then goes on to say that she does not like Mr. Thornton, in spite of his relationship with her father. He retorts that it does not matter as he like Mr. Thornton and then goes to say that he is concerned about Mrs. Hale's health. It is true that Mrs. Hale's health has not been good since the move to Milton, and Dixon is often seen crying by Margaret. And her mother is often seen praying alone is her room. Margaret determines that she will try and take some of the burden off of her mother and find a house maid. A few days later, still finding now luck in finding a housemaid, Margaret runs into Bessy Higgins in the street and strikes up a conversation with her. She asks how she has been and the sick girl replies that while she is coughing less, she is still not better. Margaret then asks her if she wishes to die, after a long pause, the girl replies that if she has to continue living the way that she currently lives, then she would be glad if the doctor's words of her not seeing another winter would be true. They talk for a little more and Bessy says that she and her father were upset by her not following up on her promise to visit. On this, Margaret asks if she can come directly home with her. At her home, they go into the living room, and Margaret is shocked by how much of a tole the short walk took on the girl's health. She gasps for air and Margaret tries to help her to water, after which the girl closes her eyes. Margaret tries to tell her to remember that god gave her the life that she has but is shut down by Nicholas Higgins who entered the home after they did. He says that he only believes what he sees and scolds Margaret again for breaking her promise to visit. Bessy awakens again but then falls truly ill in spasms. Margaret tries to help her and everyone gives the girl some space. When she awakens, her father takes her upstairs only after Margaret promises to visit them again on the next day. When Margaret goes home however, she is told by her father that Mrs. Thornton is going to visit the next day, causing Margaret to worry about keeping her engagement at the Higgins'. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 10 "Wrought Iron and Gold", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Mr Thornton comes over for tea rather late and is very anxious. At half past 7 the door is opened for him by Dixon. Mr. Hale greets him kindly and introduces his guest to his family. Mr. Thornton gets the idea that all of the cakes and biscuits that are laid out are very habitual to the family, especially Margaret, whom he observes setting the table and fiddling with a bracelet on her arm. He wishes that he could have watched Margaret longer, but it is time for tea. Margeret's beautiful eyes look up to her father's and Mr. Thornton is struck by her. Mr. Thornton and Mr. Hale talk none-stop, leaving no room for anyone, giving Margaret the opportunity to take in her guest's figure. Her father, who is tall, seems small compared to Mr. Thornton. Mr Thornton's face is also very strong, with a heavy brow and almost perfect teeth, which shine like the sun when the man smiles. Margaret is called back to the conversation by hearing her father quote Chevy Chase after Mr. Thornton talked about the fantastic minds of the early manufactures. Margaret is roused to defending her darling South, when she feels that Mr. Thornton has talked badly about it in comparison to his North. She says that he does not know anything about the south, and that there is far less suffering down there as opposed to in Milton, where the men are worked down to the bone. Thornton replies that she does not know the North either, but with a tone of voice of kindness, knowing that he hurt her. Mrs. Hale then pipes up to say that he in spite of the things their guest loves about Milton, he does have to admit that it is dirty and says that she needs to have the curtains washed once a week as opposed to once a month, if that, in the South. Thornton cannot defend Milton on that front but takes it as an opportunity to say how the Parliament has forced that upon them. The south forces laws onto the Northerners without knowing what life is like in the North (same as today…) Mr. Thornton says that he paid to have his chimney changed to burn the smoke too before this law was passed, but that if he had waited longer, until after the law was passed, he would have resisted against the parliament, feeling like they shouldn't be able to force him to run a business in a certain way. Mr. Thornton goes to give a recap of the early days of the industrial revolution and talks about how these “early masters” became new kings in the area, dictating what hours people could do business with them and having a complete control over the trade. Mr. Thornton believes that if someone wishes to do business with him at midnight, he should be at the buyer's beck and call. He says that the “early cotton lords” were tyrants over workers. He goes on to say that what he loves about the North is that a man, regardless of position, can rise through the ranks, causing Margaret to say that he must believe that all poor people exist because they have not worked as hard as he has then. He can only reply by talking about himself. He tells them that his father died when he was young and was thus forced to work from the age of 15 or so. He earned very little to support a family of 3 on, but his mother made sure to put away some of the money he made too, which then allowed him to become the man he is today. This history has caused him to believe that through suffering, instead of self-indulgence, you can become anything and believes that anyone that can read and write could become like him. He soon afterwards leaves, shaking hands with Mr. and Mrs. Hale, and receiving a curtsy from Margaret, causing him to think that the girl is far too proud…

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 9 "Dressing for Tea", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:The next day Mr Hale is hesitating to tell his family something. Eventually, much to Mrs. Hale's dislike, he says that he has invited Mr. Thornton to tea. Mrs. Hale is very confused, firstly she does not know what to serve him and supply him with for entertainment, but secondly, she has no second maid to help prepare everything. Margaret says that she will help and tries to reassure her mother that Mr. Thornton's entertainment will be talking to her father. She is looking forward to properly meeting Mr. Thornton, though she wishes that she could have had more time to prepare for the evening instead of it being thrust upon herself. She is extremely fatigued after helping Dixon prepare everything and Mrs. Hale is stunned that her life has come to this…her daughter doing housework. She scorns Mr Thornton's name. Margaret tries to correct her mother's behaviour, but Mrs. Hale remains still unconvinced. At the other side of town, in Mr Thornton's house, a perfectly dressed older woman is repairing a tablecloth. Hearing a footstep in the corridor she calls out “John” surprised to hear her son's footstep. Seeing him, she asks what he is doing, and was he not supposed to be having tea. He replies positively to this and says that he has come only to change his clothes. This perplexes his mother, as in her day, people went for tea after work, they didn't come and change before meeting people, and in any case, what does he want in having tea with “an old parson.” He corrects his mother that Mr. is a gentleman and his wife and daughter are ladies. Mrs Thornton asks why he never mentioned his wife and daughter before, and her son replies that he has never met the mother and has only met the daughter once and thus felt it wasn't relevant. His mother makes a remark about staying safe from the claws of a southern girl who would only want his money. He says to his mother that he is not easily caught. Again Mrs. Thornton says something about southern girls wanting rich husbands, causing her son to tell her about how he was treated by Margaret when they first met. Leaving, he defends again Mr. Hale, and says that if she is awake, he will tell her about Mrs. Hale after tea.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

"Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life" was Mrs Gaskell's first full-length novel. It was published anonymously in that tumultuous year of political change, 1848. Elizabeth Gaskell's own personal contact with the plight of the poor cotton workers of Lancashire compelled her to a compassionate examination of their lives; but as a middle-class woman, married to a Unitarian minister, her approach to her subject took on a emotionally complex significance; influenced by religious faith but also by more personal considerations.In the brief preface to the novel, Mrs Gaskell hints at her initial impulse. The loss of a beloved child in infancy led her to seek a therapeutic outlet, but one which left her uncertain of her capacity to contextualize her public, writerly response to the tragedies occurring in the surrounding society of Manchester's poorest classes: "I know nothing of Political Economy, or the theories of trade..." She was, however, determined to portray, in novelistic form, the intimate connection between the private experience of her characters and the social forces of her time. The success of the novel led her to proclaim her authorship and move on to further works of fiction, which have secured her in our times a mounting reputation as one of the leading novelists of the mid-Victorian period.Our reader Tony Foster is a resident of Manchester and a near-neighbour of Mrs Gaskell (allowing for their separation in time). His superb narration renders the native speech of her characters with an authenticity which ideally conveys the spirit of this book. A truly moving experience awaits everyone who gives ear to this 'Tale of Manchester Life'. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life" was Mrs Gaskell's first full-length novel. It was published anonymously in that tumultuous year of political change, 1848. Elizabeth Gaskell's own personal contact with the plight of the poor cotton workers of Lancashire compelled her to a compassionate examination of their lives; but as a middle-class woman, married to a Unitarian minister, her approach to her subject took on a emotionally complex significance; influenced by religious faith but also by more personal considerations.In the brief preface to the novel, Mrs Gaskell hints at her initial impulse. The loss of a beloved child in infancy led her to seek a therapeutic outlet, but one which left her uncertain of her capacity to contextualize her public, writerly response to the tragedies occurring in the surrounding society of Manchester's poorest classes: "I know nothing of Political Economy, or the theories of trade..." She was, however, determined to portray, in novelistic form, the intimate connection between the private experience of her characters and the social forces of her time. The success of the novel led her to proclaim her authorship and move on to further works of fiction, which have secured her in our times a mounting reputation as one of the leading novelists of the mid-Victorian period.Our reader Tony Foster is a resident of Manchester and a near-neighbour of Mrs Gaskell (allowing for their separation in time). His superb narration renders the native speech of her characters with an authenticity which ideally conveys the spirit of this book. A truly moving experience awaits everyone who gives ear to this 'Tale of Manchester Life'. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life" was Mrs Gaskell's first full-length novel. It was published anonymously in that tumultuous year of political change, 1848. Elizabeth Gaskell's own personal contact with the plight of the poor cotton workers of Lancashire compelled her to a compassionate examination of their lives; but as a middle-class woman, married to a Unitarian minister, her approach to her subject took on a emotionally complex significance; influenced by religious faith but also by more personal considerations.In the brief preface to the novel, Mrs Gaskell hints at her initial impulse. The loss of a beloved child in infancy led her to seek a therapeutic outlet, but one which left her uncertain of her capacity to contextualize her public, writerly response to the tragedies occurring in the surrounding society of Manchester's poorest classes: "I know nothing of Political Economy, or the theories of trade..." She was, however, determined to portray, in novelistic form, the intimate connection between the private experience of her characters and the social forces of her time. The success of the novel led her to proclaim her authorship and move on to further works of fiction, which have secured her in our times a mounting reputation as one of the leading novelists of the mid-Victorian period.Our reader Tony Foster is a resident of Manchester and a near-neighbour of Mrs Gaskell (allowing for their separation in time). His superb narration renders the native speech of her characters with an authenticity which ideally conveys the spirit of this book. A truly moving experience awaits everyone who gives ear to this 'Tale of Manchester Life'. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life" was Mrs Gaskell's first full-length novel. It was published anonymously in that tumultuous year of political change, 1848. Elizabeth Gaskell's own personal contact with the plight of the poor cotton workers of Lancashire compelled her to a compassionate examination of their lives; but as a middle-class woman, married to a Unitarian minister, her approach to her subject took on a emotionally complex significance; influenced by religious faith but also by more personal considerations.In the brief preface to the novel, Mrs Gaskell hints at her initial impulse. The loss of a beloved child in infancy led her to seek a therapeutic outlet, but one which left her uncertain of her capacity to contextualize her public, writerly response to the tragedies occurring in the surrounding society of Manchester's poorest classes: "I know nothing of Political Economy, or the theories of trade..." She was, however, determined to portray, in novelistic form, the intimate connection between the private experience of her characters and the social forces of her time. The success of the novel led her to proclaim her authorship and move on to further works of fiction, which have secured her in our times a mounting reputation as one of the leading novelists of the mid-Victorian period.Our reader Tony Foster is a resident of Manchester and a near-neighbour of Mrs Gaskell (allowing for their separation in time). His superb narration renders the native speech of her characters with an authenticity which ideally conveys the spirit of this book. A truly moving experience awaits everyone who gives ear to this 'Tale of Manchester Life'. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life" was Mrs Gaskell's first full-length novel. It was published anonymously in that tumultuous year of political change, 1848. Elizabeth Gaskell's own personal contact with the plight of the poor cotton workers of Lancashire compelled her to a compassionate examination of their lives; but as a middle-class woman, married to a Unitarian minister, her approach to her subject took on a emotionally complex significance; influenced by religious faith but also by more personal considerations.In the brief preface to the novel, Mrs Gaskell hints at her initial impulse. The loss of a beloved child in infancy led her to seek a therapeutic outlet, but one which left her uncertain of her capacity to contextualize her public, writerly response to the tragedies occurring in the surrounding society of Manchester's poorest classes: "I know nothing of Political Economy, or the theories of trade..." She was, however, determined to portray, in novelistic form, the intimate connection between the private experience of her characters and the social forces of her time. The success of the novel led her to proclaim her authorship and move on to further works of fiction, which have secured her in our times a mounting reputation as one of the leading novelists of the mid-Victorian period.Our reader Tony Foster is a resident of Manchester and a near-neighbour of Mrs Gaskell (allowing for their separation in time). His superb narration renders the native speech of her characters with an authenticity which ideally conveys the spirit of this book. A truly moving experience awaits everyone who gives ear to this 'Tale of Manchester Life'. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life" was Mrs Gaskell's first full-length novel. It was published anonymously in that tumultuous year of political change, 1848. Elizabeth Gaskell's own personal contact with the plight of the poor cotton workers of Lancashire compelled her to a compassionate examination of their lives; but as a middle-class woman, married to a Unitarian minister, her approach to her subject took on a emotionally complex significance; influenced by religious faith but also by more personal considerations.In the brief preface to the novel, Mrs Gaskell hints at her initial impulse. The loss of a beloved child in infancy led her to seek a therapeutic outlet, but one which left her uncertain of her capacity to contextualize her public, writerly response to the tragedies occurring in the surrounding society of Manchester's poorest classes: "I know nothing of Political Economy, or the theories of trade..." She was, however, determined to portray, in novelistic form, the intimate connection between the private experience of her characters and the social forces of her time. The success of the novel led her to proclaim her authorship and move on to further works of fiction, which have secured her in our times a mounting reputation as one of the leading novelists of the mid-Victorian period.Our reader Tony Foster is a resident of Manchester and a near-neighbour of Mrs Gaskell (allowing for their separation in time). His superb narration renders the native speech of her characters with an authenticity which ideally conveys the spirit of this book. A truly moving experience awaits everyone who gives ear to this 'Tale of Manchester Life'. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life" was Mrs Gaskell's first full-length novel. It was published anonymously in that tumultuous year of political change, 1848. Elizabeth Gaskell's own personal contact with the plight of the poor cotton workers of Lancashire compelled her to a compassionate examination of their lives; but as a middle-class woman, married to a Unitarian minister, her approach to her subject took on a emotionally complex significance; influenced by religious faith but also by more personal considerations.In the brief preface to the novel, Mrs Gaskell hints at her initial impulse. The loss of a beloved child in infancy led her to seek a therapeutic outlet, but one which left her uncertain of her capacity to contextualize her public, writerly response to the tragedies occurring in the surrounding society of Manchester's poorest classes: "I know nothing of Political Economy, or the theories of trade..." She was, however, determined to portray, in novelistic form, the intimate connection between the private experience of her characters and the social forces of her time. The success of the novel led her to proclaim her authorship and move on to further works of fiction, which have secured her in our times a mounting reputation as one of the leading novelists of the mid-Victorian period.Our reader Tony Foster is a resident of Manchester and a near-neighbour of Mrs Gaskell (allowing for their separation in time). His superb narration renders the native speech of her characters with an authenticity which ideally conveys the spirit of this book. A truly moving experience awaits everyone who gives ear to this 'Tale of Manchester Life'. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life" was Mrs Gaskell's first full-length novel. It was published anonymously in that tumultuous year of political change, 1848. Elizabeth Gaskell's own personal contact with the plight of the poor cotton workers of Lancashire compelled her to a compassionate examination of their lives; but as a middle-class woman, married to a Unitarian minister, her approach to her subject took on a emotionally complex significance; influenced by religious faith but also by more personal considerations.In the brief preface to the novel, Mrs Gaskell hints at her initial impulse. The loss of a beloved child in infancy led her to seek a therapeutic outlet, but one which left her uncertain of her capacity to contextualize her public, writerly response to the tragedies occurring in the surrounding society of Manchester's poorest classes: "I know nothing of Political Economy, or the theories of trade..." She was, however, determined to portray, in novelistic form, the intimate connection between the private experience of her characters and the social forces of her time. The success of the novel led her to proclaim her authorship and move on to further works of fiction, which have secured her in our times a mounting reputation as one of the leading novelists of the mid-Victorian period.Our reader Tony Foster is a resident of Manchester and a near-neighbour of Mrs Gaskell (allowing for their separation in time). His superb narration renders the native speech of her characters with an authenticity which ideally conveys the spirit of this book. A truly moving experience awaits everyone who gives ear to this 'Tale of Manchester Life'. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 8 "Home Sickness", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:The change is wallpaper is not enough to convince the family that Milton is their new home. It would need much more for that. Dixon and Margaret are unpacking boxes as fast as possible to get Mrs. Hale settled as fast as possible. There is a deep fog that settles in the morning, and Mrs. Hale is not convinced that she will be able to make a home of this place. Mr Hale is not convinced either and he laments that he should have tried to live in some country place in Wales. Margaret, when alone, is in a state of despair whenever she thinks about having to stay in Milton for the foreseeable future. Margaret thinks about Helston when she sits down on a packing box and tries to distract herself by reading a letter she received from Edith. She and captain Lennox have settled in Corfu, where they are to be stationed for at least a year. Edith describes the place well and tells all about their easy life there. She reminds Margaret too about the night when she met captain Lennox, a date she remembers well. Margaret thinks then about if anyone from the London set will remember her…The family needs to find another maid to help them, but each girl that comes for an interview is rejected by Dixon. Mr. Hale spends much time with his new pupils and it is noted that many people in the area are undereducated because their parents send them to work in factories at a very young age. Mr. Thornton is the eldest of Mr. Hale's students, but the majority of them are older. Mrs. Hale does not care much for her husband spending so much time in contact with his students. Margaret spends much time out in the town trying to look for a girl to help them at home too and comes across many of the people of Milton while they go to and come from the factories. In the street she is accosted by the women because she is nicely dressed and they want to know where she got her clothes from, and she is accosted by the men because she is pretty, and they call out to her in the street… In the Spring, Margaret goes to a field with her father to collect flowers and one of these such men came too with his daughter. Margaret gives a flower to the sickly girl, and her father is grateful for it. Margaret converses with the man while they walk back into town and tries to befriend him and his family. It is eventually agreed that Margaret will visit them. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 7 "New Scenes and Faces", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary: The family has gone to Heston where they plan to settle themselves while they find a house in Milton. It is a very purpose-built town, and Margaret notes that people don't seem to hang around their shopfronts when business is calm, they make work for themselves. They find themselves a hotel to stay in, the first clean one they find. Margaret does not want to think about the future while listening to the lapping waves on the shore, but she must think about it. A few days later Margaret and her father set out to Milton to look at some homes and to provide Mr. Hale to meet Mr. Thornton for the first time. As they approach Milton, they see the blue hazy smoke rise from the city, and they taste the change in the air. The city is made of many brick houses, and the town is heaving with people and trucks making deliveries to the factories. The people are well dressed, but their clothes are baggy. They check themselves into a hotel, and after deciding to see the houses first and then get lunch, Margaret and her father set off. They see several houses and are not fully satisfied with any of them, but with a budget of 30 pounds a year, they cannot ask for much. Margaret manages to come up with a plan for one of the homes however and convinces her father to take it. He drops Margaret off at the hotel to order lunch and heads back to the house to take it, and to try and convince the landlord to change the wallpaper. At the Hotel, Margaret is greeted by a footman who tells her that Mr. Thornton has come to visit her father. She enters the room and greets him with civility. Mr. Thornton is taken aback, not only was he expecting to see Mr. Hale, but he also believed that his daughter must have been a much younger girl. Mr Thornton is frustrated that he has to wait for Mr. Hale to come on a market day, but he is suddenly made calm by Margaret's presence, which he doesn't understand. The two converse briefly while the man is stunned by Margaret's beauty, and he gives short curt answers to her. When Mr. Hale comes home, the two gentleman converse with each other and Margaret goes to the window. When the men have finished talking, Mr. Hale informs Margaret that he couldn't convince the landlord to change the wallpaper for her. When the family eventually moves into the home however, they find that the landlord has changed the wallpaper. It seems that what he was unwilling to do for an unknown Mr. Hale, he was more than ready to do for Mr. Thornton.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 6 "Farewell", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:The Hale family are preparing for their final departure from Helstone. Mrs. Hale and Dixon are slow in their preparations as they keep finding old relics from Margaret and her brother's childhood. Mr. Hale is in his study, and Margaret is directing the removers where to put each box as they are carried to the train station. Margaret, though keeping a brave face, is full of sorrow. She goes for one last time into the garden and there is a dull mist floating in the air. She walks for the first time in the area where Henry Lennox made his proposal and feels very strange, so much had changed since then. She suddenly feels very alone and afraid, and runs back to the house, banging on the door to be let back inside. Charlotte opens the door for her, and Margaret tells her to write once they are settled in Milton. When Mr. Hale comes back inside he is very depressed. He has seen the last of his parishioners, and when Margaret finds out that one of the younger children was waiting for her to come to visit too, she finally bursts into tears. The following day, a chaise comes to collect the Hale family and take them to the train station. As they leave Margaret goes to take one last look at the house, but decides to let her father take it instead, feeling that he deserves it more. They make it to London in the evening, where they are to stay in a hotel for the night before heading North. They are blown away at London life; the town is bustling well after sundown. Mrs. Hale believes that they passed Mr. Lennox, and Margaret goes to look out of the carriage and wishes to have seen him, but not he, them. In the evening, Mr Hale leaves his family to go and see his bookseller, and he leaves his wife and daughter at the hotel where they can only think about going to see their friends. They know however that they cannot go, and they would not be permitted to be sad with them. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 5 "Decisions", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Margaret listens to her mother's plans during the rest of the evening and her thoughts linger on the townspeople who would always be expecting her to come and visit to help them. She tells her mother that they must indeed help the people of Helstone with great enthusiasm, which concerns her mother slightly, so she sends her daughter to bed early. The following day, Mr. Hale comes downstairs and announces that he is going to be out for the day, until around 7pm, letting Margaret know that she has until then to let her mother know the terrible news. Margaret wishes to get the thing over with and asks her mother to join her in the garden. They walk slowly and soon Margaret spews forth the news. Mrs. Hale is at first confused and then shocked and saddened. She goes on to ask why her husband felt like he could not tell her this news himself and is jealous that he told his daughter first. Her sorrows only calm a little when Margaret talks of how much Mr. Hale must have suffered under this tremendous weight. Margaret spend the rest of the day trying to comfort her mother. At around 7, Mr. Hales comes home, Margaret does not go to meet him at the door. When he comes in, he is grey and pale and looks afraid. His wife goes to him and throws herself on his breast where the two cry together. Margaret goes to her room to cry alone. In her room a servant enters and tries to arrange the room, but she is concerned for Margaret and goes to fetch Dixon. Dixon comes and tries to comfort her mistress but end up talking about how awful a man Mr Hale must be to have organised all this without telling any of them. Margaret defends her father and puts their servant back in her place for taking too much liberty. She send Dixon away and bolts the door behind her. Two weeks to organise a removal is almost far too short a time to get it all done, let alone enough time to find a house in Milton. Margaret sets to trying to find a place for her mother to go while she and her father find a house. She finds a place 30 miles away from the industrial town and proposes this to her father, where the agree on it. After suggesting it to her mother, Mrs. Hale's only regret is that her husband cannot join her there too.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 4 "Doubts and Difficulties", narrated by Isaac Birchall Subscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Mr Lennox is gone and the house is being closed for the evening. While waiting for her parents to come down, Margaret reflects over the affair in the garden. Dinner is quiet and Margaret finds it odd that no one asks about Mr. Lennox. After supper, her father goes over the mantlepiece in thought, and her mother goes to check on the servants. Mr. Hale then calls his daughter over to him, asking her to come into his study with him. In the study he takes a while to start talking, but suddenly, in a burst, he confesses to Margaret that he is leaving Helstone. She is stunned but asks for more clarity. Mr Hale has become disenchanted with the church, and while still devoted to god, he can no longer serve as a minister. Margaret tries to stay calm though his speech, but she cannot help but feel deeply upset by this news. He goes on to say that he has already told the bishop that he shall be leaving his post and that the on the following Sunday, he will give his farewell sermon. He then asks Margaret if she will be able to be the one to tell her mother of this terrible news and while she hates to have to do this terrible job, she agrees when she sees how much stress this act will but her father through. Margaret knows her mother will be very shocked by this news and asks her father where they are going to. He says Milton Northern, a manufacturing town in Darkshire, where he believes that he can make money. He has apparently taken a job as a tutor to an up-and-coming man. Margaret is confused as to what a common man could want to do with a tutor but as her father explains more, she understands a little more. Her mother calls for her and with one last, deep hug, Margaret leaves her father in his study and goes to her mother. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 3 "The More Haste The Worse Speed", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Mr Henry Lennox has come to visit, and he is greeted happily by Margaret. He lets her know that her cousin and his brother have now started their proper honeymoon and have gone to Plymouth to catch their boat. Margaret goes to fetch her mother and while she is gone, the man looks around himself and is disappointed to find out in what sort of place Margaret lives. It is not at all how he pictured it. Mrs Hale is not happy about the visit from Mr Lennox, as both she and her husband are not feeling too well, and they are only to have a cold lunch so that the servants can get their work done. Margaret tells her that Mr. Hale likes Mr Lennox, and not to worry about the food, and when pressed by her mother as to what he is to do until lunch, her daughter says that she shall take him into the forest to draw. Mr Lennox and Margaret set out into the forest and find some lovely cottages to draw. Margaret goes off and talks to the old man who lives in one of the cottages and Mr. Lennox draws Margaret and the old man into his sketch. After a couple of hours, they are finished and back up their drawing materials and head back home for dinner. The dinner is fine and conversation is easy. The family then goes into the garden to eat fresh pears for dessert. In the Garden, Henry and Margaret go on a small walk around their grounds. During this walk, Mr Lennox professes his love to Margaret. This declaration greatly shocks her, and she lets him know that she has only ever thought of him as a friend. Mr Lennox is both shocked and heavily disappointed by her response. They go back together to join the family again and Margaret is very upset with her visitor. She wishes that he could never had said anything at all, wishes that things were like they were before. Following this, the mood has changed and Mr. Hale is less impressed with Mr. Lennox, though he has no idea why the man have changed in so short a time. They are very glad when he takes his leave of them to catch the 5o'clock train. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 2 "Roses and Thorns", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Margret is traveling home with her father after Edith's wedding. Her mother did not join them as she they could not afford the dresses that she would have worn, and though her sister would have supplied her with numerous gowns, she was too proud to accept them. Mr Hale was the perfect model of a parish priest. Margret is very hopeful of the future. Her father is sleeping in the carriage and is described as a very handsome man. She also thinks about her brother, and laments over his choice of joining the navy instead of the clergy. She wants to comfort her mother and father and ready's her face to support him when he awakens. Margret is very happy to be back in the countryside; she hated being forced to take a carriage while in town and wants to be able to be with the country folk. Her mother is unhappy with her family's situation and wishes that the bishop gave more attention, and a bigger parish to her husband. Mr Hale shrinks more and more as Mrs. Hale tells him to ask again and again for a bigger parish. Mrs. Hale doesn't really like living in the country, and as the season changes and becomes colder, Margret finds it harder to put up with her mother's complaints. She regrets that all of their neighbours are regular folk, and that everyone worth interacting with lives on the other side of the parish. Margret fights back at her mother for this thought as these people are only worth being with because they have money from a trade, they don't have any status. Margret says that she would prefer to interact with their immediate neighbours. Margret's mother is not a bookish person, and because of this, Mr Hale has retreated most nights into his study to read. Margret is a reader, and loved to go through her father's library, but spends her nights telling her mother about London life, which Mrs. Hale listens to attentively. Margret wishes to ask about her brother but can never bring it up to her mother or father. His room is always kept in perfect order by the maid, but he is never spoken about. Mr. Hale goes out every day to check the post for news of Frederik, and he shoos away from his parishioners because of the lack of news. On one bright sunny day, the housekeeper announces the arrival on HenrySEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 1 "A Haste to the Wedding", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:North and South opens with Margret and her cousin Edith in one of the back drawing rooms. Mrs. Shaw is talking with her friends about wedding dresses and wedding ceremonies and Edith fell asleep instead of joining in the conversation. Once Edith marries, Margret will return home from her life in London and be back in the countryside again. A large family dinner was organised to say farewell to Edith before her marriage in a few days' time. Mrs. Shaw regrets her marriage because of a very large age difference between her and her late husband and has determined on her daughter marrying for love.Edith is called for, but as she is asleep, Margret goes in her stead. She is asked by her aunt to go and fetch some Indian Shawls from upstairs to show to her friends. She goes upstairs and reminisces about her first time coming to the nursery at the age of 10 when she was moved to her aunt's home. When she comes down, she is asked to model the shawls for Mrs. Shaw's friends, and they all fawn over the fabrics until the gentlemen enter. Mr Henry Lennox, the brother of Edith's fiancé is talked to by Mrs. Shaw. He soon finds a place to sit with Margret and proceeds to ask her how she is feeling about moving back to the country and asks many questions about what it is like there. Margret however refuses to elaborate on anything and leaves Henry Lennox jesting at her for her closedness. It is clear that he is very keen on her. Edith awakens during this time and goes to play some piano while waiting for her betrothed to arrive. The man soon arrives, and in several days, he and Edith are married, and away they go on their honeymoon. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

This is a special episode of Strong Sense of Place in which we announce that we're doing it again — we're taking a group of readers back to Trevor Hall. In October 2025, we took over Trevor Hall — a Georgian manor house in Llangollen, Wales — with forty members of the Strong Sense of Place community. It was the best book club ever. We took walks in the countryside, talked about (so many) books, enjoyed ridiculously delicious meals, and told spooky stories by candlelight. And we made lifelong friends. We're doing it again — and you're invited to join us! Together, we'll make ourselves at home in this historic mansion surrounded by the picturesque North Wales countryside. We'll have a book club, share gourmet meals in the Great Hall, play parlor games, ramble in the hills, and stomp our feet at a Celtic ceilidh. Our weekend begins in Manchester, England — a UNESCO City of Literature. We'll check into our rooms at a design hotel and enjoy our first IRL meetup in a historic library. After a good night's sleep, we're off to Elizabeth Gaskell's House for a private tour of the Victorian villa where she wrote ‘North and South' (and entertained literary friends like Charlotte Brontë and Charles Dickens). After a restorative tea-and-cake break, we'll ride together via private motor coach through the rugged countryside to Llangollen, a charming town on the River Dee in North Wales. Our destination: Trevor Hall. The Hall sits on a wooded hilltop overlooking green slopes dotted with sheep and horses. After a tour of the house and gardens, we'll ease into country living in the Hall's luxurious (and tastefully eclectic) rooms. With bookish activities, entertainment, and surprises planned throughout the weekend, you're sure to be delighted — and have plenty of time to connect with old and new bookish friends. DatesThis is a five-day, four-night trip: Thursday through Monday. It will be held on two consecutive weekends; each weekend is limited to 19 guests. Weekend 1: Thursday, November 5 through Monday, November 9 Weekend 2: Thursday, November 12 through Monday, November 16 Also! Click here for the complete details about the weekend and to enjoy the pretty photos For early access to tickets, join our Patreon. To be notified the minute tickets go on sale, join our free Substack newsletter. If you're curious about last year's trip, listen to our podcast episode That Time We Rented a Manor House in Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded on January 15, 2026 Book talk starts at 24:45 EVENTS Tracie and Barb will be attending NoCKRs - April 23-26, 2026 in San Juan Bautista.   Our Sweater KAL has ended and prize winners will be announced at the end of this podcast.  Thank you to everyone who participated! Our spring KAL will be the One-Skein KAL!  Find that beauitful skein of yarn you've been saving for someday and knit it up into whatever you want - a hat, a cowl, mitts or socks.  The only rules are that your project must use at least 100 yards of yarn and be all from a single skein of yarn.  We will cast on for this KAL starting February 1 and go through May 15.   KNITTING Barb has finished: Bankhead #37   Barb has Cast On: 1.  Effortless Cardigan by Zabeth, using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes worsted, in the Dove Heather colorway 2.  Stephanie's One-Row Scarf by Stephanie-Pearl McPhee, using a Caron Upside Down Cake in the Peanut Butter colorway   Tracie has finished: 1.  Felix Pullover by Amy Christophers from her combo spin 2.  Vanilla socks with FLK heel in Dreaming of Hue 75% SW Merino/25% Nylon in Unicorn Tails 3.  Melt The Ice Hat  by Paul S. Nearly in Psych Ward Yarns Hecka Fingering and Queensland Collection Sugar Rush Solids held together 4.  Melt the Ice Badge - #3D version by Hasani, in Malabrigo Rios   Tracie has Cast-on 1.  Zephyr Mark II By Celia Cahill in Invictus Yarns Tenacity in Wicked Guitar Riffs 2.  The Simple Thing by Melina Brell in WoolFolk Fär in color 28   Tracie has frogged/ put into Hibernation: Chicory Pullover by Susan Moskwa using Malabrigo Washted in the Pascal colorway     BOOKS   Barb has Finished:   1.  Motherland by Julia Ioffe - 2 stars   2.  The Correspondent - 5 stars   3.   The Writing Retreat - 3 stars     Tracie has finished:   1.   James by Percival  Everett- 3.5 stars   2.  Poisoned Love Carlton Smith - 4 stars   3.  What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall  - 2.5 stars   4.  North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell - 4 stars   5.   Broken Ground (Karen Pirie #5) by Val McDermid - 4 stars

This week Sara and Cariad are joined for a very special episode all about audiobooks by the queen of audio narration - BAFTA nominated and Olivier award winning actress, Juliet Stevenson. In this episode they discuss Elizabeth Gaskell, kids books, bully directors, José Saramago, acting and Geordie accents.The Speakies British Audio Awards take place on the 24th November at the Royal Opera House.We've partnered with the Best Audiobook: Fiction category. There are some brilliant audiobooks nominated in that category including Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, read by Éanna Hardwicke. Why not go back and listen to our episode on Intermezzo where we talked to the brilliant Aisling Bea. Juliet is also nominated for the Best Audiobook: Non-Fiction category for her brilliant narration of Persian Pictures by Gertrude Bell.Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you!Follow Sara & Cariad's Weirdos Book Club on Instagram @saraandcariadsweirdosbookclub and Twitter @weirdosbookclubTickets for Sara's tour show I Am A Strange Gloop are available to buy from sarapascoe.co.ukCariad's children's book Lydia Marmalade and the Christmas Wish is out in paperback here now. Recorded and edited by Naomi Parnell for Plosive.Artwork by Welcome Studio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The actor Richard Armitage refuses to be pigeon-holed. He first made a national impact as the mill-owner John Thornton in the BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. Audiences around the world know him as Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson. He's played a serial killer in Hannibal, a spy in Spooks, and has starred in four Harlan Coben thrillers on Netflix. He's also written thrillers: the most recent is The Cut, which examines childhood trauma and the dangers of buried secrets - and also draws on his own musical experiences, because the main character, like Richard, plays the cello. His choices include works by Arvo Part, Mahler, Rameau, and Gluck. Presenter Michael Berkeley Producer Clare Walker

A recap and review of the sleeper hit BBC Miniseries North & South, discussed without full details to allow for elements of surprise when watching it yourself. Based on a book written by Elizabeth Gaskell in 1855, the miniseries follows the story of a young woman moving abruptly from a picturesque existence in the South of England to an industrial town in the North. Throughout, the 2005 film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice is mentioned to highlight how the two stories, and productions, share similarities. Then, how a new version of Dracula manages to present a fresh take by focusing on the intense connection between two star-crossed lovers. After a review of what sets this next vampire iteration apart from others before it, we delve into the history of it's director and my theory about why it wasn't originally distributed in America and won't be available in those theaters until next year. Timestamp: North & South review ends, and Dracula: A Love Tale review/dive begins, at 39:41All opinions are personal and not representative of any outside company, person, or agenda. Information shared is sourced via published articles, legal documents, press releases, government websites, public websites, books, public videos, news reports, and/or direct quotes and statements, and all may be paraphrased for brevity and presented in layman's terms.Wanna support this independent pod? Links below:BuyMeACoffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BBDBVenmo @TYBBDB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perhaps Elizabeth Gaskell's best-known work, Cranford chronicles the lives of some Victorian era LMMs (Ladies of Modest Means). Their customs and relevance may be waning as Industrialization advances, but that doesn't mean they won't find ways to entertain us with their wit, their foibles, and their heart.This episode is sponsored by Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/overdue for 10% of your first purchase of a website or domain.Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis.Follow @overduepod on Instagram and BlueskyAdvertise on OverdueSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to episode 711. We have one classic tale for you, about a remote country house where the halls echo with haunting music and the footsteps of spectral children.COMING UPGood Evening: Halloween Flash Contest: 00:01:06Elizabeth Gaskell's The Old Nurse's Story as read by S. H. Cooper: 00:04:58PERTINENT LINKSSupport us on Patreon! Spread the darkness.Shop Tales to Terrify MerchHalloween Flash ContestS.H. Cooper on TwitterOriginal Score by Nebulus EntertainmentNebulus on FacebookNebulus on InstagramSPECIAL THANKS TOAmanda CarrilloLestle BaxterOrion D. HegreSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/talestoterrify. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel is joined by Youth Services Librarian Audrey to discuss spooky reads for the fall season, and they inadvertently end up DESTROYING the Brothers Grimm. Check out what we talked about: Books mentioned: "Lost Hearts" by M.R. James with listenalike podcast "Shadows at the Door," specifically "The Troughton Stories." "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson with readalike "This House Is Haunted" by John Boyne. "The Old Nurse's Story" by Elizabeth Gaskell with listenalike podcast "Scare You To Sleep." "The Death of Jane Lawrence" by Caitlin Starling with readalike "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters. "Behind the Yellow Door" by Christine Campbell Thompson with readalike "And the Dead Spake" by E.F. Benson. "Rumpelstiltskin" by the Brothers Grimm retold and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky with readalike "Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version" by Philip Pullman. Briefly mentioned were "House of Leaves" by Mark Z. Danielewski, "The Girl with the Green Ribbon" by Alvin Schwartz, and "The Red Shoes" by Hans Christian Anderson. To access complete transcripts for all episodes of Not Your Mother's Library, please visit: oakcreeklibrary.org/podcast The following music was used for this media project: "Moonlight Hall" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech – Music and also Graph Paper ) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License Deed - Attribution 4.0 International - Creative Commons Check out books, movies, and other materials through the Milwaukee County Federated Library System: countycat.mcfls.org hoopladigital.com wplc.overdrive.com oakcreeklibrary.org

Welcome to Episode 241! Some highlights of this episode include a discussion of our third quarter readalong, THE UPSTAIRS HOUSE by Julia Fine, and its companion read, Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 1892 short story, THE YELLOW WALLPAPER. Thanks to the readers who joined us for the Zoom conversation and helped deepen our appreciation of both stories. We also discussed “The Monkey's Paw” by W.W.Jacobs from THE PENGUIN BOOK OF GHOST STORIES from Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce, and learned that it has not only been adapted to film, but there's been a play and an opera inspired by this short, tense, and creepy tale. Some other things we've read include WORKING by Robert Caro, UNTIL ALISON by Kate Russo, WRECK by Catherine Newman, and FONSECA by Jessica Francis Kane. In Biblio Adventures, we recap jaunts to exciting places in SIX STATES: Connecticut, of course, and also New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Tennessee, and Alabama. We got around the past two weeks! Stops included the NYPL, The Drama Book Shop, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, RJ Julia Booksellers, the Piper City Public Library, Parnassus Books, and Huntsville's historic districts. Have you heard that NYC is getting its first Horror Bookstore? The Twisted Spine in Brooklyn is celebrating its grand opening in early September. Happy Listening and Happy Reading! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode241

Gentle listeners, this year marks the 20th anniversary of Joe Wright's film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which released in 2005 and stars Kiera Knightley and Matthew MacFayden. Join Kristin, Maggie and our dear friend Adrienne Garcia-Specht to discuss what we love and hate about this beloved, controversial, and wildly successful adaptation! As you probably guessed, Kristin still hates it. By the way, you must check out the recent edition of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South by unnamed press, which features a section with Adrienne interviewing Morgan Spector!

In the year 1795, in the secluded Derbyshire town of Barford, a stranger settles into the old White House. He renovates it handsomely, pays every bill on time, and quickly wins the friendship of the local squire and his daughter. Among the hunting gentry, he seems to fit right in. But this is a story of the hunting gentry—and the secrets they don't know, and the things people do when no one is looking. The Squire's Story is a Gothic tale by Elizabeth Gaskell, first published in Household Words in 1853. Known for Cranford and North and South, Gaskell here turns her subtle realism to darker terrain.

In North and South (1855), Margaret Hale is uprooted from her sleepy New Forest town and must adapt to life in the industrial north. Through her relationships with mill workers and a slow-burn romance with the self-made capitalist John Thornton, she is forced to reassess her assumptions about justice and propriety. At the heart of the novel are a series of righteous rebels: striking workers, mutinous naval officers and religious dissenters.Dinah Birch joins Clare Bucknell to discuss Gaskell's rich study of obedience and authority. They explore the Unitarian undercurrent in her work, her eye for domestic and industrial detail, and how her subtle handling of perspective serves her great theme: mutual understanding.Non-subscribers will only hear an extract from this episode. To listen to the full episode, and all our other Close Readings series, subscribe:Directly in Apple Podcasts: https://lrb.me/applecrnaIn other podcast apps: https://lrb.me/closereadingsnaRead more in the LRB:Dinah Birch: The Unwritten Fiction of Dead Brothershttps://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v19/n19/dinah-birch/the-unwritten-fiction-of-dead-brothersRosemarie Bodenheimer: Secret-keepinghttps://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v29/n16/rosemarie-bodenheimer/secret-keepingJohn Bayley: Mrs Ghttps://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v15/n05/john-bayley/mrs-g Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textWelcome to Season 5, Episode 21 of That Pretentious Book Club!In this episode, Spoons and Wheezy deep-dive into listener recommendation North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. This Victorian romance is rife with more than just yearning (although make no mistake—the yearning is copious), and also features fascinating social commentary and confirmation that humans have always been humans. Featuring the first truly in-depth author bio the club has covered in a while, this slightly-longer-than-usual episode is bound to have you in fits, with the hosts doing their best to remind you why this podcast is shelved under  "comedy" on your listening app of choice.Skippers jump to 37:39 Now pour yourself a cup of tea, raise a pinky, and join the club for this discussion of North and South!P.S. Wheezy may or may not have lost her editing notes for this episode—so if you catch a few extra “um”s, awkward pauses, or rogue throat clearings, just pretend it's part of the authentic Victorian atmosphere.Support the showFind this episode's book and more by shopping at https://bookshop.org/shop/storysirensstudio to support the club AND local bookstores!Visit us at storysirensstudio.com or find us on social media @thatpretentiousbookclub.Check out sister podcast The Scripturient Society for writers and join our writing group on Facebook! Find Space Aliens, Southerners, and Saving the World by Ash Leigh O'Rourke on Amazon.

We were thrilled to talk with author Eowyn Ivey about her new book, BLACK WOODS BLUE SKY. During our conversation, Eowyn shared her writing habits, including a description of her writing cottage, and tells us about her reading life. Topics ranged from motherhood on the page and in real life, her family's literary life in Alaska, and Proust vs Joyce. In our own reading lives, we both read and discuss “The North Mail” by Amelia B. Edwards from THE PENGUIN BOOK OF GHOST STORIES: from Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce. We gave this one four paws up. Or should it be eight paws? Whatever the rating system should be for cougars, we both enjoyed Edwards's story. It has a good creep factor and atmosphere, both indoors and outside. Other books we've enjoyed include novels HAPPY LAND by Dolan Perkins-Valdez and THE GRIFFIN SISTERS GREATEST HITS by Jennifer Weiner; a quartet of novellas, OLD NEW YORK by Edith Wharton; and two works of nonfiction: STORYWORTHY: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling by Matthew Dicks and DEEP WORK: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport. Big thanks to this episode's sponsor, James Crews and Brad Peacock. The new poetry collection they co-edited is available on May 6: LOVE IS FOR ALL OF US: Poems of Tenderness and Belonging from the LGBTQ+ Community and Friends (with illustrations by Lisa Congdon). We also recap a great Biblio Adventure to the Mark Twain House to hear Ethan Rutherford (author of NORTH SUN, OR THE VOYAGE OF THE WHALESHIP ESTHER) in conversation with Amity Gaige about her new novel, HEARTWOOD. Chris also got to attend THE MOUNT'S virtual book club discussion of Edith Wharton's A SON AT THE FRONT and Willa Cather's ONE OF OURS, led by Anne Schuyler and Julie Olin-Ammentorp. As always, there are more books inside this episode than we can fit here! Enjoy, and be sure not to miss our conversation with Eowyn Ivey at the end. Oh, and reminder: our second quarter readalong pick is THE GOOD HOUSE by Tananarive Due (Zoom discussion on 6/8 and also on Goodreads). Thanks for listening, and happy reading! https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode232 The Good House Goodreads readalong https://www.bookcougars.com/blog-1/2025/episode231 Penguin Book of Ghost Stories Goodreads thread https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/23017532-ghost-stories

Ep. 679: Cranford | Chapter 1 Book talk begins at 16:10. We're diving into a brand-new book, and this one's got all the charm, wit, and genteel gossip you could ask for! The reigning queen of propriety, Miss Deborah Jenkyns, has thoughts about everything—from how to properly serve dinner to why men are mostly unnecessary. But when a certain Captain Brown dares to disrupt the delicate social balance, will Cranford's ladies be able to keep their composure? --------------------------------------------------------------- • 03:20 - Actually, we announced the raffle on 4/4/25. More info and entry information here: • 04:50 - • and • 05:50 - • 06:07 - • 06:37 - • 06:44 - Other books of Elizabeth Gaskell: , , and • 07:31 - • 07:50 - and the • 10:25 - • 10:42 - • 12:34 - • 12:41 - • 16:20 - • 16:43 - and • 17:39 - and • 20:00 - • 21:00 - • 23:26 - • 24:00 - • 25:05 - by • 25:43 - • 25:52 - designed by THE Brenda Dayne • • • • How to play Whist and • • • • • and •   *CraftLit's Socials* • Find everything here: https://www.linktr.ee/craftlitchannel • Join the newsletter: http://eepurl.com/2raf9  • Podcast site: http://craftlit.com • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CraftLit/ • Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftlit • Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/craftlit/ • TikTok podcast: https://www.tiktok.com/@craftlit • Email: heather@craftlit.com • Previous CraftLit Classics can be found here: https://bit.ly/craftlit-library-2023   *SUPPORT THE SHOW!* • CraftLit App Premium feed bit.ly/libsynpremiumcraftlit (only one tier available) • PATREON:   https://patreon.com/craftlit (all tiers, below) ——Walter Harright -  $5/mo for the same audio as on App ——Jane Eyre - $10/mo for even-month Book Parties ——Mina Harker - $15/mo for odd-month Watch Parties *All tiers and benefits are also available as* —*YouTube Channel Memberships*  —*Ko-Fi* https://ko-fi.com/craftlit  —*NEW* at CraftLit.com — Premium Memberships https://craftlit.com/membership-levels/ *IF you want to join a particular Book or Watch Patry but you don't want to join any of the above membership options*, please use PayPal.me/craftlit or CraftLit @ Venmo and include what you want to attend in the message field. Please give us at least 24 hours to get your message and add you to the attendee list.     • Download the FREE CraftLit App for iOS or Android (you can call or email feedback straight from within the app) • Call 1-206-350-1642

Charlotte Mason firmly believed that novels are our greatest teachers, hence why she included them as a major serving in the feast that nourishes our children's education. This episode was recorded live at the ADE At Home conference, February 7, 2025, with Nicole, Emily, and Liz leading a discussion with attendees who had read the book and come to what they gleaned from Miss Gaskell's groundbreaking and somewhat controversial novel, Ruth. If you have read the book, you will enjoy listening to what we all gleaned from this story, and if you have not, you will be inspired to read it. Ruth, Elizabeth Gaskell Sabbath Mood Homeschool's Living Science Curriculum A Delectable Education's Teacher Helps

Literary skill ensured Charlotte Brontë's place in the "classics" category, and this audiobook delves deeply into her life and times. AudioFile's Leslie Fine and host Jo Reed discuss how Lucy Scott is the consummate British narrator, with a brisk pace and animated tone that remain consistent through an extensive audio performance. Supporting cast members are used well to voice various primary sources; these moments highlight the quotations and break up considerable blocks of research and explanation. The transitions among the supporting voices are seamless.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices