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Elizabeth Gaskell: North and South

Read by Clare Wille

Elizabeth Gaskell: North and South
This complex story requires a narrator who can accurately convey the historical conditions and character motivations. Clare Wille certainly fits the bill. She animates Gaskell’s classic story...

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Elizabeth Gaskell: North and South

Read by Clare Wille

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This complex story requires a narrator who can accurately convey the historical conditions and character motivations. Clare Wille certainly fits the bill. She animates Gaskell’s classic story...

Audiophile Audition

More reviews

About

When Margaret Hale moves with her father from the comfort of the south of England to the industrial north, she is at first repulsed by what she sees; and then when she discovers the conditions under which the workers are forced to live, she is outraged. But this throws her into direct conflict with the powerful young mill-owner, John Thornton. Using personal passions to explore deep social divisions, North and South is a great romance – and one of Elizabeth Gaskell’s finest works.

Contents and tracklist

Elizabeth Gaskell: North and South (Unabridged)
Work length18:33:27
  • Recording Venue: Liberty Hall Studios, New Barnet
Chapter 1: 'Haste to the Wedding'
Track length8:33
Margaret went up into the old nursery…
Track length4:39
Her Aunt was so much absorbed…
Track length6:47
'I submit. You are rather severe tonight, Margaret.'
Track length5:56
Chapter 2: Roses and Thorns
Track length6:08
It was the latter part of July when Margaret returned home.
Track length5:57
And walk Margaret did, in spite of the weather.
Track length7:05
Chapter 3: 'The More Haste the Worse Speed'
Track length5:18
Mrs. Hale took off her black silk apron…
Track length5:32
The conversation at dinner flowed on quietly and agreeably.
Track length5:05
'Margaret,' said he, taking her by surprise…
Track length7:17
Chapter 4: Doubts and Difficulties
Track length8:58
The sight of her distress…
Track length6:54
Was it to be so sudden then?
Track length6:05
Mr. Hale continued.
Track length7:06
Chapter 5: Decision
Track length7:24
The fine crisp morning made her mother feel…
Track length5:35
Mistaken as Margaret felt her father's conduct…
Track length4:48
And then in tears, Margaret left her…
Track length4:13
Margaret needed all Dixon's help in action…
Track length8:16
Chapter 6: Farewell
Track length7:56
The study was all ready for tea.
Track length6:55
Chapter 7: New Scenes and Faces
Track length6:10
There were no letters awaiting him.
Track length6:26
Margaret could not help her looks…
Track length6:59
Chapter 8: Home Sickness
Track length5:11
Yes! Margaret remembered it well.
Track length6:28
It fell to Margaret's share to have to look out for a servant…
Track length6:45
One day Margaret and her father…
Track length4:50
Chapter 9: Dressing for Tea
Track length4:47
In Mr. Thornton's house at this very same time…
Track length4:43
Chapter 10: Wrought Iron and Gold
Track length6:47
She rearranged her mother's worsted-work…
Track length6:50
Margaret's lip curled, but somehow she was compelled…
Track length7:25
Chapter 11: First Impressions
Track length7:31
One afternoon she met Bessy Higgins in the street…
Track length5:30
Bessy had been watching Margaret's face…
Track length5:30
Chapter 12: Morning Calls
Track length6:57
Margaret was busy embroidering…
Track length6:25
Chapter 13: A Soft Breeze in a Sultry Place
Track length6:01
Bessy moved uneasily.
Track length6:35
From that day forwards Mrs. Hale became more and more…
Track length3:35
Chapter 14: The Mutiny
Track length7:01
'But we did not receive this letter…'
Track length7:06
Chapter 15: Masters and Men
Track length6:43
At last Mrs. Thornton came in…
Track length5:53
She smiled a grim smile…
Track length3:41
Mr. Thornton came that evening to Mr. Hale's.
Track length7:21
Mr. Hale spoke next.
Track length6:02
'I only state the fact.'
Track length6:04
Chapter 16: The Shadow of Death
Track length7:29
Meanwhile Margaret had returned into her father's study…
Track length5:13
She was in violent hysterics…
Track length5:04
Chapter 17: What is a Strike?
Track length5:57
'But all this time you've not told me what…'
Track length5:36
Her father went out of doors…
Track length6:45
Chapter 18: Likes and Dislikes
Track length6:13
'Well, mother,' asked Mr. Thornton that night…
Track length6:18
'Have the hands actually turned out?' asked Mrs. Thornton…
Track length5:45
Chapter 19: Angel Visits
Track length5:24
'I wish I could see you dressed up,' said Bessy…
Track length7:10
The medicines and treatment…
Track length5:55
'It's no use Higgins…'
Track length5:30
Margaret sat utterly silent.
Track length2:14
Chapter 20: Men and Gentlemen
Track length6:45
Mrs. Hale would have been more than interested…
Track length7:51
He was not in the habit of talking to ladies…
Track length6:50
Chapter 21: The Dark Night
Track length6:07
Dr. Donaldson took his arm and led him…
Track length6:53
Mrs. Hale herself was not aware when she awoke…
Track length5:50
Chapter 22: A Blow and Its Consequences
Track length6:44
From some cause or other, there was a pause…
Track length5:57
Margaret felt intuitively, that in an instant…
Track length5:39
But the retrograde movement towards the gate had begun…
Track length6:25
'Oh, dear, dear!' said Fanny, crying…
Track length6:44
Chapter 23: Mistakes
Track length5:25
The tea would have been very silent…
Track length4:32
Margaret entered the room…
Track length6:18
Chapter 24: Mistakes Cleared Up
Track length6:52
'I do not want to be relieved from any obligation…'
Track length7:15
Chapter 25: Frederick
Track length4:59
When she got there, she found Bessy…
Track length7:11
Margaret read in her soft low voice.
Track length5:15
Margaret did not think of anything…
Track length7:25
Chapter 26: Mother and Son
Track length4:45
Mrs. Thornton had sat in the dining-room all day…
Track length3:46
His step at last!
Track length4:31
Chapter 27: Fruit-Piece
Track length6:27
He went at an unusual pace…
Track length8:39
Chapter 28: Comfort in Sorrow
Track length6:52
Margaret felt that he acknowledged her power…
Track length6:01
But he slouched his cap low down over his brow…
Track length6:58
In the first place…
Track length5:21
Nicholas Higgins suddenly stood straight…
Track length5:09
'About the wages,' said Mr. Hale…
Track length7:44
Mr. Hale saw that Higgins was vexed…
Track length4:41
Chapter 29: A Ray of Sunshine
Track length6:52
'Do you know Margaret, I really begin quite to like…'
Track length7:41
Chapter 30: Home At Last
Track length7:50
During the time that Mrs. Thornton…
Track length6:19
He threw himself forward…
Track length6:00
Margaret could not sit still.
Track length7:28
If Margaret thought Frederick's theory…
Track length3:36
Chapter 31: 'Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot?'
Track length4:18
Towards evening Dixon said to her…
Track length5:10
It was evident that Frederick must go.
Track length6:25
Frederick was silent for a time…
Track length8:30
Chapter 32: Mischances
Track length6:11
They went back to the station.
Track length5:15
Chapter 33: Peace
Track length7:13
Margaret sat by him in the coach.
Track length5:36
Chapter 34: False and True
Track length4:27
The inspector was almost daunted by the haughtiness…
Track length8:09
Chapter 35: Expiation
Track length5:32
Mr. Thornton had hardly gone…
Track length6:43
Very grey and stern did Mr. Thornton look…
Track length6:54
She threw herself, dressed as she was…
Track length6:46
Margaret turned to the envelope…
Track length6:26
Mr. Hale's cheerful subjects had come to an end.
Track length3:46
Chapter 36: Union Not Always Strength
Track length6:47
There was a little pause.
Track length5:35
Six men walked in the middle of the road…
Track length7:33
Margaret saved her from falling…
Track length6:19
Chapter 37: Looking South
Track length7:38
No more contempt for her!
Track length6:46
'Help you! How? I would do anything…'
Track length7:29
'How proud that man is!'
Track length1:35
Chapter 38: Promises Fulfilled
Track length6:59
'I do not see any harm in what she did that evening…'
Track length5:15
The more Mrs. Thornton thought over…
Track length4:00
Margaret's eyes flashed fire…
Track length5:58
Mr. Thornton was not spending the morning…
Track length8:51
Chapter 39: Making Friends
Track length5:18
She found Nicholas busily engaged…
Track length6:48
Higgins's obstinacy wavered…
Track length4:18
Margaret was silent.
Track length5:25
Chapter 40: Out of Tune
Track length5:45
They found Margaret with a letter open before her…
Track length7:08
Mr. Thornton laughed outright at this.
Track length4:18
When he had somewhat abruptly left the room…
Track length7:35
She did not breathe freely…
Track length7:08
Chapter 41: The Journey's End
Track length5:44
When her father had driven off…
Track length5:27
The next day she had the little Boucher children…
Track length4:14
And Mr. Hale thought of Margaret…
Track length5:50
If Mr. Bell had had a prophetic eye…
Track length8:09
Chapter 42: Alone! Alone!
Track length5:57
In the same spirit of kindness…
Track length6:56
Mrs. Thornton and Fanny were in the dining-room…
Track length6:34
Mr. Thornton's eyes glowed like red embers.
Track length6:41
Chapter 43: Margaret's Flittin'
Track length6:21
The house teemed with comfort now…
Track length4:00
Nicholas was out…
Track length5:19
At this instant Mr. Thornton entered…
Track length6:31
Chapter 44: Ease Not Peace
Track length5:50
She looked forward with longing…
Track length5:44
And with tea came Mr. Henry Lennox…
Track length5:35
He joked, to give her time to recover…
Track length7:22
Chapter 45: Not All a Dream
Track length7:00
Chapter 46: Once and Now
Track length5:10
Margaret tried to speak…
Track length4:20
Here and there old trees had been felled…
Track length7:21
They did not speak much more…
Track length4:35
The parsonage was so altered, both inside and out…
Track length5:25
Margaret was silent for some time…
Track length5:59
'No, you would not.'
Track length6:35
But it was no smiling matter to Margaret.
Track length6:22
Chapter 47: Something Wanting
Track length5:56
She's a Papist, Miss, isn't she?'
Track length6:22
Chapter 48: 'Ne'er to be Found Again'
Track length6:50
Mr. Bell did not make his appearance…
Track length6:57
Chapter 49: Breathing Tranquillity
Track length6:18
But all this time for thought…
Track length7:24
Chapter 50: Changes at Milton
Track length5:23
He reviewed his position as a Milton manufacturer…
Track length5:38
'Stop a minute, measter.'
Track length5:59
He turned away from her and covered his face…
Track length6:03
Chapter 51: Meeting Again
Track length5:44
Margaret looked with an anxious eye at Mr. Thornton…
Track length6:07
'I have been unsuccessful in business…'
Track length4:39
Chapter 52: 'Pack Clouds Away'
Track length4:51
Her voice had cleared itself…
Track length4:33

Awards and reviews

Audiophile Audition

This complex story requires a narrator who can accurately convey the historical conditions and character motivations. Clare Wille certainly fits the bill. She animates Gaskell’s classic story with faultless characterizations. John Thornton emerges as haughty yet honorable.
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