North and SouthNorth and South
Score Classic
What it's about
After her father leaves the Church, Margaret Hale moves from comfortable Hampshire to the industrial northern town of Milton. She is moved by the mill workers' suffering, and she clashes with the mill owner, John Thornton.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a Victorian novel that combines a fierce love story with the conflict between workers and owners.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
If you like Pride and Prejudice, this is a good next step. It takes a while to get going.
By the numbers
- Readers72 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller27 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Elizabeth Gaskell
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Sentimental EducationExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is North and South worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,245 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is North and South about?
After her father leaves the Church, Margaret Hale moves from comfortable Hampshire to the industrial northern town of Milton. She is moved by the mill workers' suffering, and she clashes with the mill owner, John Thornton.
How long does it take to read North and South?
About 14 hours (540 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after North and South?
If you liked it, try Middlemarch by George Eliot, Persuasion by Jane Austen or Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell.