North and South (version 2)


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.2 stars; 24 reviews)

North and South is a social novel that tries to show the industrial North and its conflicts in the mid-19th century as seen by an outsider, a socially sensitive lady from the South. The story: the heroine, Margaret Hale, is the daughter of a Nonconformist minister who moves to the fictional industrial town of Milton after leaving the Church of England. The town is modeled after Manchester, where Gaskell lived as the wife of a Unitarian minister. The change of lifestyle shocks Margaret, who sympathizes deeply with the poverty of the workers and comes into conflict with John Thornton, the owner of a local mill, also a friend of her father. After an encounter with a group of strikers, in which Margaret attempts to protect Thornton from the violence, he proposes to her, telling her that he is in love with her; she rejects his proposal of marriage, mainly because she sees it as if it were out of obligation for what she had done. Later, he sees her with her fugitive brother, whom he mistakes for another suitor, and this creates further unresolved conflict. Margaret, once she believes she has lost his affection, begins to see him in another light, and eventually they are reunited. (Summary from Wikipedia) (18 hr 31 min)

Chapters

'HASTE TO THE WEDDING' 27:28 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
ROSES AND THORNS 17:27 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
'THE MORE HASTE THE WORSE SPEED' 29:18 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
DOUBTS AND DIFFICULTIES 31:11 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
DECISION 26:28 Read by Madame Tusk
FAREWELL 13:55 Read by Madame Tusk
NEW SCENES AND FACES 17:21 Read by Madame Tusk
HOME SICKNESS 26:10 Read by Yazpistachio
DRESSING FOR TEA 10:43 Read by Yazpistachio
WROUGHT IRON AND GOLD 22:31 Read by Yazpistachio
FIRST IMPRESSIONS 17:24 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
MORNING CALLS 12:22 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
A SOFT BREEZE IN A SULTRY PLACE 15:02 Read by JemmaBlythe
THE MUTINY 13:04 Read by Robin Cotter
MASTERS AND MEN 32:35 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
THE SHADOW OF DEATH 22:40 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
WHAT IS A STRIKE? 22:45 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
LIKES AND DISLIKES 17:42 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
ANGEL VISITS 27:21 Read by JemmaBlythe
MEN AND GENTLEMEN 20:36 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
THE DARK NIGHT 18:37 Read by JemmaBlythe
A BLOW AND ITS CONSEQUENCES 33:30 Read by Yazpistachio
MISTAKES 17:44 Read by Yazpistachio
MISTAKES CLEARED UP 14:33 Read by Yazpistachio
FREDERICK 26:32 Read by Yazpistachio
MOTHER AND SON 11:51 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
FRUIT-PIECE 14:00 Read by thomasina
COMFORT IN SORROW 43:07 Read by JemmaBlythe
A RAY OF SUNSHINE 13:57 Read by foudebassan
HOME AT LAST 28:49 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
'SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT?' 30:22 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
MISCHANCES 10:53 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
PEACE 16:39 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
FALSE AND TRUE 15:46 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
EXPIATION 34:17 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
UNION NOT ALWAYS STRENGTH 24:26 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
LOOKING SOUTH 21:24 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
PROMISES FULFILLED 28:28 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
MAKING FRIENDS 18:48 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
OUT OF TUNE 31:02 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
THE JOURNEY'S END 26:53 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
ALONE! ALONE! 23:35 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
MARGARET'S FLITTIN' 21:55 Read by Robin Cotter
EASE NOT PEACE 23:53 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
NOT ALL A DREAM 6:27 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
ONCE AND NOW 38:14 Read by TinyPines
SOMETHING WANTING 11:21 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
'NE'ER TO BE FOUND AGAIN' 13:05 Read by Michelle Crandall
BREATHING TRANQUILLITY 13:38 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
CHANGES AT MILTON 22:20 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
MEETING AGAIN 20:41 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
'PACK CLOUDS AWAY' 10:46 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)

Reviews

Fairly done


(3 stars)

The story itself is nice but so many different readers, with different accents was uneven to listen to. Many of the readers were pleasant to hear but not all. Hopefully another version will be completed soon. I would like to try this story again.

fantastic novel!


(4 stars)

most of the readers were great , only a couple were mildly distracting.

Best Librivox version of an excellent novel


(4 stars)

It was Richard Armitage's BBC portrayal of Mr. Thornton that first interested me in North and South. I have been a fan ever since. If you enjoy Jane Austen, I think you will also enjoy this mixture of social commentary and love story. Janine Barchas published a thoughtful analysis of the connection between Austen and Gaskell in an article for the journal of the Jane Austen Sociaty of North America (North and South: Austen’s Early Legacy, by Janine Barchas, Persuasions vol. 30 (2008)). I'm not a lit major, but could appreciate the parallels once Barchas pointed them out to me. Like Austen, Gaskell is an author that you can enjoy on multiple levels. If you're looking for a good story on the surface - this is one. If you're looking for deeper social commentary from a woman's perspective, this also suits. So overall, I have the highest praise for the book. Librivox has two collaborative versions of North and South posted. This is the second. Lee Ann Howlett reads many chapters and does an excellent job. There are several readers who are difficult to listen to (either because of style or sound quality), but for the most part, it is a well done collaboration. Version 1 had readings by a number of excellent Librivox stalwarts, but overall, I think version 2 is easier to listen to. There is a version 3 in the works at Librivox.org - it's being done as a solo project and is about half done as I write this. It's easy enough to sample a chapter on line and see how you like that reader's style. I personally like the variety of readers in version 2 and so will stick with that one as my "favorite."

good book but varied readers


(5 stars)

there are three versions of this book. i couldn,t get the third one to play, so l went back and forth between the first two versions. i listened to whichever chapter had the clearest reader. other than that, good story with the typical happy ending.

ok, except the "acting"


(3 stars)

Some of the readers completely spoil this experience. The croaking southern lady, criaking British lady, and plethora of fake British and painfully prim accents are the pits!!!! Thank goodness for Lee Anne Howlett, who salvages some of the chapters.

love the book


(4 stars)

I love this book and have listened to it many times but as said in some poof the other comments of the readers are a little distracting and hard to understand