North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

I just added this novel to my to-be-read status. I stayed up very late last night to watch the BBC mini-series and I can't stop thinking about it. It's so good!! How have I never heard of this book or movie before!?

North and South is about a young woman, Margaret Hale, who moves with her mother and father from their middle class, southern home to the northern, industrial town of Milton. She meets John Thornton, one of the masters of a cotton mill. They clash and dislike each other immediately. There is turmoil rising in the town as the workers threaten to strike. Margaret is strong and opinionated and Thornton is determined and brooding and full of angst. It's just fantastic. The character development of the two leads as well as the rest of the characters is superb. I like that you get to see what's happening to the town and their relationship from both sides.

It's just a lovely, lovely film and I can't wait to get my hands on the novel.

I just bought this vintage classics edition. Isn't the cover fantastic?