If you are a fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility, then you will love North and South.This is not a book about the American Civil War. Instead, it is about a woman’s journey from the languid South of England to the fast-paced, polluted North. Buy this book in paper or electronic format Margaret’s journey to love is one of twists and turns. Like Pride and Prejudice there are mistaken first impressions, dismissed proposals, and interfering relatives. Unlike Austen’s works, however, Gaskell gives the readers a glimpse into the love interest’s world as well. Mr. Thornton is a fully flesh character, not an outline seen only through the protagonist’s eyes. His struggles make him a deep and compelling character. Also unlike Austen, Gaskell’s novel delves into a deeper subtext. Class wars, unions, and strikes are rife. Margaret sees the other side of life through her friendship with a union leader’s dying daughter. The relationship that grows between the mourning father and Margaret is one of the most powerful in the novel. Even Mr. Thornton’s mother is a complex character, who influences the actions of the novel as much as anyone. If you are not interested in…