Margaret of the North

An enduring romance, a guilty pleasure. Margaret Of The North is a historical romance about a young Victorian woman, who has an intense love affair with her husband. In this sequel to Elizabeth Gaskell 's North and South and its retelling in the BBC miniseries of the same title, the love between Margaret and John is deep, lasting, and compelling. Margaret confronts modernity and industrialization and struggles with the age-old complexities of human relationships in a harsh bustling Northern city. After marrying John Thornton, she faces challenges and influences those around her in her passage into maturity and modern womanhood. Intelligent, independent-minded, and passionate about her own concerns, she whittles away at Victorian repression, curbs a niche and an identity for herself, and becomes a modern woman who remains true to her feelings for the man she loves. Written in a tone and style that harks back to 19th century writers, it pays homage to Jane Austen. The novel has been written so it can be read as a standalone; i.e., without having read Gaskell’s book or seen the BBC miniseries. Having said that, it will probably resonate more forcefully for those familiar with the series and/or the book.