Happy Friday, readers! Even though wee are about all things Austenesque, I know many readers of this blog are fans of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South. And as you are probably already aware there was a North and South anthology titled Falling for Mr. Thornton published last month with many stories written by authors who are familiar to Austenesque readers. And one of those authors is the lovely Nicole Clarkston who is here today to share an insightful post about Elizabeth Gaskell. We hope you enjoy!
The BBC adaptation of North and South captivated countless viewers, introducing most to the story of Margaret Hale and John Thornton. With a darker edge and grittier setting than Cranford, this Gaskell story really resonated with those of us living in the modern, urban era.
What is it that makes North and South so vibrant? And why are readers clamoring for more variations written with Gaskell’s characters? Nicole Clarkston shares her thoughts on what makes Gaskell’s North and South so compelling.
The Relevance of an Author
By Nicole Clarkston
I will be honest—I don’t much care for Dickens.
The fault is not in his ability to spin a good yarn. There is a good reason why some of his stories are now immortal and will dwell forever in the subconscious of the well-read person. He understood how to select a complex setting, create a compelling plot, weave in some credible angst, and instill in the reader a powerful emotion informed by personal conscience. Right. Wrong. A character’s travails and motives can be examined in a moment and settled with clarity.
And that, I suppose, is why I find him boring.
The truth is, we all wish the world could be that simple. We want people to be exactly what they look like they are, and we want situations to have clean resolutions, without the messiness that comes with real life. Dickens had one thing right—he knew how to dive deep into the dumpster of human depravity. The only problem was that his heroes never got dirty while they were there.
Elizabeth Gaskell, however, is different. During her lifetime, she associated with many tiers of 
society. She had friends among the academic elite, the clergy, the manufacturers, and, not least, the workers in Manchester’s mills. These workers were a necessary cog in the great wheel of Industry, yet in the public mind, they were frequently marginalized as ignorant, dishonest, uncaring for their kin, and, in some cases, even deserving of their poor lot in life. Gaskell fearlessly set about dismantling that thinking by portraying such people in her books as intelligent, honest, and three-dimensional.
In her first novel, Mary Barton, Gaskell took a somewhat more heavy-handed approach to proving her point. However, it is here that we see her full opinions on display. Like Dickens, she does not shy away from presenting her reader with the very most pitiful of human conditions, but she also exerts considerable effort to moderate the individuals. They are not caricatures in Gaskell’s work. Instead, they leap off the page as full renderings of humanity.
A person might be poor, but they can still be clean. They might have little time for leisure, but they read when they can. Possessions might be few, but they are treasured with a reverence typically accorded only to the upper classes in other fictional works. Most importantly, even her most impoverished characters care about each other. Families find joy in one another, lovers sacrifice for each other, and dear friends show up when the chips are down.
That was a revolutionary attitude, but it’s not what makes Gaskell the classic she is. What I love about Gaskell, and why she is so relevant today, is that she adopts the curious stance that whether a person is good or wicked does not depend upon their social standing. She bravely shows us the best and worst of all classes, from “high” to “low.” Additionally, her most memorable characters are never purely good or purely wicked. They are as we—flawed, some more than others, and yet each possessing pure motives and earnest beliefs that allow the reader to see through their eyes.
In North and South, perhaps one Gaskell’s most memorable achievements as an author is the triangular relationship of John Thornton, Margaret Hale, and Nicholas Higgins. They represent three types of persons, all brought together and forced to coexist with clashing opinions, uncertain temperaments, and the burden of past griefs. Not one of them is perfect, but all are admirable in their own way. All three of them make mistakes. All three of them act out of prejudice. All three of them wound each other.
And yet, despite all the forces conspiring to make them misunderstand each other, Gaskell finds a way of breaking down the human barriers. They’re all soiled by the past, but they’re also all repentant. Willing. And, above all, humble.
Unlike with most other stories, Gaskell’s tales do not have a pretty bow tied to the end. The world is 
still messy. Wrong still exists. Good people will continue to screw up and bad people will continue to get ahead. The good news in her stories is that people are inclined toward each other now, instead of away. They listen, they forgive, and they try to live better. Gaskell’s magic was in creating people who are real to us, with the power to live outside the book long after we close it.
I don’t know when you last looked in a mirror, but I did fairly recently. I found it humbling. I looked at people I didn’t understand and I found something to love in them, and they returned the favor.
I think we still need to hear that.
What a thought-provoking post, Nicole. Thank you so much for sharing. It definitely seems like Elizabeth Gaskell had some similar abilities with understanding human nature that Jane Austen did. I’m so glad that there are stories like this that portray such characters and the different walks of life they experience.
~ Falling for Mr. Thornton ~
Amidst the turbulent backdrop of a manufacturing town in the grips of the Industrial Revolution, Elizabeth Gaskell penned the timeless passion of Mr. Thornton and Margaret Hale. A mixing of contemporary and Victorian, this short story anthology by twelve beloved authors considers familiar scenes from new points of view or re-imagined entirely. Capturing all the poignancy, heartbreak, and romance of the original tale, Falling for Mr. Thornton is a collection you will treasure again and again.
Stories by: Trudy Brasure * Nicole Clarkston * Julia Daniels * Rose Fairbanks * Don Jacobson * Evy Journey * Nancy Klein * M. Liza Marte * Elaine Owen * Damaris Osborne * Melanie Stanford ** Foreword by Mimi Matthews **
Connect with Nicole
Website ❧ Facebook ❧ Twitter ❧ Goodreads
About Nicole
Nicole Clarkston is a book lover and a happily married mom of three. Originally from 
Idaho, she now lives in Oregon with her own romantic hero, several horses, and one very fat dog. She has loved crafting alternate stories and sequels since she was a child, and she is never found sitting quietly without a book or a writing project.
Nicole Clarkston’s books include No Such Thing as Luck, Northern Rain, Nowhere but North, Rumours and Recklessness, The Courtship of Edward Gardiner, These Dreams, London Holiday, Nefarious, and Rational Creatures (Anthology).
~ GIVEAWAY TIME ~
There are a couple of lovely prizes being shared with this post today! These generous authors are offering TWO ebooks of Falling for Mr. Thornton and TWO lovely Falling for Mr. Thornton bookmarks to be won by some lucky readers who comment on this blog post!
To enter this giveaway, leave a comment about Elizabeth Gaskell or North and South.
- These giveaways are open worldwide.
- These giveaways end December 27th!
My gratitude and thanks to Rita Deodato and all the authors in this anthology for inviting me to take part in this lovely blog tour! 🥰(even though I haven’t read North and South yet!) 😮😳🤫
Love this anthology and I already have mine! Thanks gals.
North and South is not the only book of Elizabeth Gaskells that I have read, and I have enjoyed them all
That’s great, Vesper! I’ve only read Wives and Daughters myself…I need to read her other books!
Thanks for the lovely post on North and South &Elizabeth Gaskell! I already have the anthology (and can only recommend it to everyone!) but if the bookmark giveaway is also international, I would like to enter in that one.
Wow those are powerful but enlightening statements. Thank you Nicole and thanks Meredith for the post. Thank oyu also for the chance to win a copy of this book.
Thanks for checking out Nicole’s post, Buturot!
Okay, I’ll admit it. I have not read North and South yet, but would be very interested in this anthology and the stories by some of my favorite authors. Count me in for the drawing. Thank you to all the fabulous authors who contributed.
What a thought provoking post, Nicole. Thank you for sharing your insight. I love North & South, and Elizabeth Gaskell’s writing. I was thrilled to see this anthology come to fruition. Thank you to all the authors. Thanks to you, Meredith, for hosting today. Do not enter me in the giveaway. I already have my copy of these fantastic stories!
I am very happy to host and I am glad to see that there is so many North and South fans amongst Jane Austen fans!
I haven’t actually read any books by Elizabeth Gaskell but I have seen North and South several times and I agree with the summary above but mostly I think the casting made this series especially that of Richard Armitage as John Thornton.
I do enjoy stories about John and Margaret so I bought this anthology and I loved it. Please don’t enter me in the ebook giveaway.
Very thoughtful post. North and South is a wonderful, complex novel. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the anthology.
I enjoy North and South (both the book and wonder TV BBC production). I feel that this anthology will give me a greater appreciation for the novel and especially Mr. Thornton. Thank you for Nicole’s insight and giveaway.
I’ve only read her Wives and Daughters and North and South, but just in those I would have to agree with what you said about her characters and writing Nicole. Even those who were up to villainry had motives that we can all understand.
I am embarrassed to say that I have never read North and South, and like Nicole, I’m not a full-fledged fan of Dickens. As a fierce fan of Nicole’s, you all have inspired me – am starting N&S tonight, and hope to read Falling for Mr. Thornton soon after! P.S. – love, love, love Cranford!
Good for you, Jean!! I’m glad to know I’m not alone in not having N&S, but I definitely hope to make that change soon!
North and South was the first Gaskell book I read and I was gone. Have read most of her other novels since. The BBC series was wonderful. I agree with Glynis, the casting was spot on. The best of luck with the Anthology.
I read and enjoyed this anthology. Thank you for your generosity to readers here. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and Happy New Year to all.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s works are definitely some of my favorite. Both books and movies for Wives and Daughters and North and South are inspiring. I have attempted to read a couple spinoffs for North and South and found them totally lacking and revolting. So I gave up. This anthology however has such great reviews I will have to try it. I would love to read it.
So glad to hear you are interested in this collection. The great thing about anthologies is you can be introduced to new authors and have a sampling of various styles. I hope you find some N&S stories in this collection to be much to your liking!
sounds like a wonderful anthology
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Hi Meredith! I haven’t read yet “North and South ” so I’ m glad to know I’ m not the only one LOL.
But I enjoyed “Cranford ” and the BBC series “Daughters and Wives” 😉
With this anthology now I’m really curious about reading “North and South ” so thanks to the authours for your generous prizes but don’t enter me in the ebook giveaway (because I haven’t read the original of Elizabeth Gaskell) and put me for the bookmark giveaway (I love bookmarks!).
P.S: Nicole , I have two of your novels on my TBR piles for the 2020 readings: “The courtship of Mr Gardiner” and “London Holiday” 🙂
I’m the same as you, except I haven’t seen Cranford yet.
So excited for your upcoming Nicole Clarkston reads, my friend!
What a thought provoking post. Lovely, Nicole, simply lovely. It touched me on many levels and made me hope to be a better person. Dickens is not a favorite of mine but I see his writing in a different light now. Thanks for that insight. I read N&S due to my GR friends. Nicole’s work was my first variation that I read and loved it. I’ll not re-read N&S but I will re-read the variations. Love Nicole’s work.
Don’t include me in the ebook give away; however, do consider me for the bookmark. Yeah… Thanks Meredith for hosting [hello to your Mr. Bingley], thanks to Nicole for this delightful post, thanks to all the authors who worked on this anthology and for the generous giveaway. Good luck to all in the various drawings. And… a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays in the manner in which you celebrate. Blessings, everyone.
Elizabeth Gaskell is an under appreciated author I think. This is a great post and I would love to read the anthology.
I see in your post here Nicole, that you have an understanding, and love of Gaskell’s work and that really shows in your variations. Thank you for sharing your insights on this author who hasn’t been neglected by her fans, but has been slow to be appreciated in the JAFF community as she should be. I love all of your N&S variations, and have read, reread, listened and relistened to all of them and will again and again in the future as I’m waiting patiently (??) for your next work of art.
I already have a copy of Falling for Mr. Thornton and it was so very good. I would love a bookmark though. I wish everyone here wishing for it could win a copy, but it’s really worth buying for yourself. I know I will be rereading it.
Thank you Meredith, as always, our Blog Mistress. Maybe you can fit in North and South this coming year, like you do Heyer sometimes. Merry Christmas to you and Mr. Blog Master. Looking forward to those Christmas pictures afterwards. 😀
and p.s. i’m loving the new blog format. fabulous
I really need to, Michelle! Hopefully! I can make it happen soon. Although, since I’m currently loving my reread of Little Women, I’m torn about trying to fit in some LMA reads this year…such a problem to have! So many books I want to read!!!
What a lovely, thoughtful post Nicole. Really makes one want to be a better person. I have this book but have not read it all as I am picking and choosing stories randomly. That said, I highly recommend it!
Thank you all for stopping by and to Meredith once again for hosting! I appreciate all your kind comments and the Gaskell love. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and a Jolly New Year to all.
My pleasure, Nicole! I am so excited for this anthology and I was very happy to take part in this blog tour!!
Wishing you a very happy holiday season!!
I have been a fan of Mrs. Gaskell’s work for many years, having encountered her in grad school. I gobbled up all of her novels over a single summer and loved them. So I have also gratefully, if not gracefully, read your Haskell fan fiction books, Nicole and am sooooooo excited at this new release based on my favorite Gaskell novel. Thanks so much for this generous giveaway!!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
new author to me
It sounds like a great anthology. I love the character of Thornton, looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the giveaway.