Narrated by Clare Wille
Unabridged version ISBN: 978-9626341858
When North and South is mentioned these days, it is most likely in reference to the BBC miniseries based on the book, rather than the book itself. That’s not a bad thing, because the miniseries is superbly done. It takes a complicated story of love and life in industrial England in the mid-19th century, and makes it accessible to the modern viewer. But no matter how well done the TV adaptation is, the book is a gem worth pursuing for a patient reader, or better yet, a patient listener.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s writing can be described as somewhat melodramatic, sentimental, and at times wordy, as was common for early Victorian writers. But the dated mode of writing doesn’t have to detract from the beauty of the writing or the enjoyment of the book. In fact, the style helps to immerse the reader in the time and place. North and South was, after all, written as a contemporary novel, and so shows authentic details, such as the language, dialects, and descriptions of daily life. The audiobook is read by Clare Wille, whose ability to manage not only the language of Gaskell, but also the many characters and dialects, is nothing short of amazing. Wille not only has to distinguish the male and female voice of the many characters, but she must voice the different manners of speaking between the social classes in the northern industrial town, as well as the differences in dialect between the characters from the south of England and those of the north. She does all this with skill and realism.
The story is both simple and complicated. When Margaret Hale’s father, a vicar in the Church of England, decides he can no longer serve the church due to differences of faith, he moves his wife and daughter, Margaret, from the slow moving life of rural southern England to the industrial north, there to hopefully find employment as a tutor. Margaret, being raised on edge of gentility, finds the close association with manufacturers and “shop keepers” to be repugnant. She also finds the town of Milton to be dirty, noisy, and rough. There she meets both the successful manufacturers, such as Mr. Thornton who comes to be tutored by Mr. Hale, and the millworkers, such as Higgins and his two daughters, Bessie and Mary.
Gaskell was heavily influenced by Austen’s Pride and Prejudice when writing the romance within North and South. The story of Margaret Hale and John Thornton parallels that of Elizabeth and Darcy on many levels. There is arrogance, ignorance, misunderstanding, and finally respect and understanding. Like Austen’s book, North and South shows the complicated lattice of social interactions and how class restrictions influence relationships and limit choices. Unlike Austen, however, Gaskell’s tale takes on the social problems of the day. The industrialization of England is elevating the middle class and straining the class structure of English society. Along with the changing social structure, Gaskell also explores the plight of the millworkers and struggles of the mill owners to stay competitive in a volatile market.
Gaskell’s romantic notions go farther than getting the main couple together in the end. She also sets about getting another “couple” together– the mill owner, Thornton and the union supporter, Higgins. As complicated as the misunderstandings are between Margaret and Thornton, they are nothing compared to the wall of prejudice and mistrust between the mill owners and their workers. Gaskell ideal was to see the two sides finally acknowledge their interdependence and work together to better the lives of the workers and the profits of the owners.
It should be noted that religious faith plays a large part in the book. Several characters struggle with faith and belief is openly discussed in several conversations. Even so, this is in no way an “inspirational romance.” Gaskell instead explores the different approaches to faith at that time, using the experiences of each character’s life to illuminate their struggles. The part religion plays in the book is very much in keeping with its importance in the culture of the time, and is there for debate rather than for proselytizing.
Clare Wille’s narration of Gaskell’s enduring story of love and struggles in industrial England is a rare treat. If you’ve enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and have a little patience with a writing style that is out of fashion, you will be rewarded with an awe-inspiring listening experience. Gaskell’s beautiful language and emotional story-telling coupled with Wille’s perfect narration is truly not to be missed.
Carrie
Narration: A+
Book Content: A+
Steam Factor: You can play it out loud
Violence: Minimal
Genre: General Fiction
Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks
North and South was provided to AudioGals for review by Naxos Audiobooks.
This was a great review and made me want to listen to the book (I’ve always MEANT to read it–for what that’s worth). Sadly, the book is abridged and my library system doesn’t buy abridged audiobooks :(
Oh Jennifer – this is the unabridged version. I should have made note about that and will when I’m back at my computer later today. I hope you can find it at your library now! Thanks for pointing out (indirectly) that we need to clarify.
Thanks, Jennifer! And make sure that you get the version narrated by Clare Wille. She was incredible!
I noticed on audible that if you buy the kindle version first, the audiobook is only $6.45 at audible. That’s an incredible deal, because the kindle book is free right now!
I see the source of the misunderstanding on the audio version – the abridged image was published. I have changed it to the unabridged version and included the ISBN number.
Thank you so much for writing this great review.
I’m really glad you loved Clare Wille’s narration since she is my favorite narrator (I’ve listened to this audiobook three times).
Five years ago, I fell into love with the BBC miniseries and decided to read the original peice. Back then, I had only read Harry Potter books in English and don’t even remember how many days it took for me to finish it. Yes, that hard!
But somehow, I found myself liking the book better than the drama, imagining Richard Armitage as Mr.Thornton…:)
When I decided to listen to the audiobook, I was little worried that my image of Mr. Thornton would change. But it didn’t.
My first thought was “oh, Ms.Wille must have watched the drama!” ( I believe she did.)
Then I realised she was also being faithful to the original characters.
I especially liked it when Ms.Wille distinguished male voices very well without being too theatrical.
I totally agree with you that Ms.Wille”s narration is perfeft.
Thanks Mia! I admire your persistence in reading such a challenging book in your second language! Wow!
Thanks Carrie!
I managed it only because Mr Thornton was giving me a supportive push.
I know North and South is a classic literature, but to tell the truth, my romance reading/listening all started from this book.
Based on a comment above, I purchased the free Kindle book and was offered an Audible unabridged audio for $8.45, but the narrator is Juliet Stevenson. Today (maybe it changes daily?) the Kindle book that is associated with the $6.45 audio version narrated by Clare Wille is priced $5.69 (ASIN: B002RI9H7K), so that your total price for the two is $12.14. The physical copy of the audiobook with the ISBN Lea included is $90.
So it’s still a bargain to get the Kindle plus Audible download, but be sure to check which one you get!
The day Carrie’s review came out (12-5-12) I went looking too and Tweeted that the $2.24 North and South was the one that gave you the Clare Willie audio narration for $6.45.
I’m thinking a sudden surge in buying triggers a price increase in the Kindle version. :)
OH!
To further confuse the issue, I see there are 3 separate Whispersync unabridged pairings at Amazon/Audible of this book – the third one is narrated by Flo Gibson. The Amazon product number is ASIN: B002RI9H7K on the third one; the price today is $5.69 for the Kindle book and $9.95 for the Audible download on that pairing.
caveat emptor
When I first looked at it the kindle version was free and it led you to the Wille version for $6.45. I know this was the case because I almost bought it before I remembered my kindle is on my husband’s Amazon account and my audible is linked to MY Amazon account, so it doesn’t work. :::le sigh:::
Things do change very fast, don’t they!
as long as everyone knows to look at the Audible version before committing since there are 3 different unabridged recordings!
That’s the truth, I wanted the free version of Simon Vance narrating A Tale of Two Cities and I had a devil of a time tracking down the correct Kindle version in Whispersync’s early days.
With Audible now linking the audio’s to the correct Kindle book it’s easy to backtrack and find the ebook you need most of the time.
Thanks for the ISBN of the unabridged version. I’ve asked my library to buy it and hopefully they will. I’d like to listen to it!