North and South (version 2)
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
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
Andrea Rawson
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!
A LibriVox Listener
most of the readers were great , only a couple were mildly distracting.
Best Librivox version of an excellent novel
ListeninginChicago
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
Paladin
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"
A LibriVox Listener
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
please and thank you
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