The capital thing to me is that book and series are trying to do very different things, and the series has what I call "the candy effect": it is a beautifully made period drama that takes several classic romance tropes and mixes them (enemies to lovers, Hades and Persephone, Beauty and the Beast)... you consume that before the book, like candy before dinner and then dinner doesn't taste as good even if it is excellent XD When Elizabeth Gaskell was writing the novel, her choice for title was Margaret Hale (North and South was Dickens request/demand for publication) because the core of the story is Margaret's growth from girl to independent woman (the second thread is Gaskell's depiction of the social question and her proposed resolution, and only in third place comes the romance). Characters like Henry Lennox or Edith are crucial for this. At the begniing, Henry and Margaret are very good friends, that think and act alike; she rejects him because she has always seen him as a friend and she dislikes to be thought of in a romantic way. By the end of the novel she has changed and can see how vain and empty he is. There's an exchange, two lines, that illustrates this so beautifully. Henry, talking about Thornton, says he cannot understand how he "mismanaged his affairs" and Margaret MURDERS him with a 'you in his place would have done far better." The same way, with Edith and aunt Shaw, we first see them as these silly people Margaret gladly condescends to humor in their caprices; by the end Margaret and us are absolutely fed up with their acting like Margaret is their dog and not a person with her own ideas and desires. The northern people, in turn, begin like this menacing force, to then turn into people Margaret sees as opportunities for charity, and we are hit when she leaves for London with the realization that they were her friends, the ones that, precisely, respected her as a person and heard what she had to say. The exposition, by cutting the tension of Margaret's being "trapped" in Milton, completely undercuts this point. In that way I think the series is filled with southern prejudices against the north: Thornton being physically violent (but because he's the hero he's also made posh, darcyfied; book Thornton is essentially the same kind of person Higgins is. I always pictured him as a mid 1990s Mark Strong), all the negatives and mysery of the south are erased, and so are the advantages of the north (better food and furniture for the working classes, opportunities for learning, etc), Mr. Bell is turned into a creep that tries to marry his best friend's daughter, the emptiness and disregard for anything that isn't money and beauty in the Lennoxes and Shaws is erased, etc, etc

I agree about the time element, especially how important it is that Margaret is essentially raised in London by her aunt, and her idea of Helstone is idealized as her lost childhood home from the beginning. Also her snobbishness is explained by this - she has her Aunt Shaw's prejudices and the London social class system ingrained so that on returning to Helstone she can't imagine socializing with the sons of tradesmen. On the other hand, I disagree about a number of things you like about the adaptation. The scene of meeting Thornton for the first time is terrible - that isn't who Thornton is, and Richard Armitage plays his intense inwardness and honor so well, his violence just doesn't fit with his character in the rest of the series, let alone the book. The riot scene symbolizes the passion between him and Margaret well, and by that time it makes sense. And while the train scene is lovely, it could never have happened; neither Thornton or Margaret would ever have kissed in public under any circumstances. It also squishes time together too much (Thornton's trip to Helstone comes much earlier). But more important, it leaves out Thornton's trip to London and Edith's dinner, during which he more than holds his own in that part of Margaret's life, thus showing us that Margaret is marrying her equal in every way, even within London society. I think the scene at the Great Exhibition tries to do this in another way, but it only brings out the clash between north and south, and not the importance of what the north brings to the table.

There's a spiritual aspect to the book that's missing from the movie. Margaret's father's crisis of faith causes Margaret to feel lost as well. In the book there's a great moment where she has a moment of will over emotion and prays and feels connected to God again. Mr. Thornton as well as his mother have faith discussions as well. I think it's important because of the transformation over time of both Margaret and John Thornton.

Don,t forget the wonderful music in the film.

I really like the book but enjoy the movie more. It's intensely romantic. I like Bessie. I LOVE Fanny! She's so gossipy, featherheaded, & melodramatic. The actress playing her had great comedic timing. Her hysteria after the strike ("I almost FAINTED!") Just cracks me up.

You have made some excellent points. Brilliant!

I watched the miniseries after reading the book and, but, in my case, I wasn't satisfied at all! The recreation of the small industrial town was great, the actors were good, etc. but I was not very happy with the screenplay. Some things on it didn't even make sense, in my opinion. For example, when Margaret first meets Mr. Thornton, he is brutally beating a man who is already on the floor, defenseless. I can't see it as a demonstration of passion of any kind, it was just brutal. After reading the book, you get quite a good perception of how acute is Margaret's sense of what is right and what is not, so I started wondering how could she get to like him after this? Also, in the series, it is not explained how they gradually start to understand each other and it makes their relationship look a bit awkard. I think the complex relationship between them is completely underdeveloped in the series, they barely speak to each other! It makes it look almost ridiculous when he suddenly decides to propose to her, it just comes out of the blue. The ending scene at the train station was also not very believable, in my opinion (it was very beautiful and romantic, but I didn't buy it). Lots of interesting parts and conversations from the book where cut and others (less important, in my opinion) left. However, I did like how they recreated the relationships between Margaret and Bessie and Mr. and Mrs. Thornton. Besides that, I did LOVE Margaret, and I think the series don't make her any justice. She is a very uncommon heroine and I enjoyed how she spoke her mind out, how independent and strong she was, even if she was quite snobbish and self-righteous on occasions (especially at first). In the series, you can barely see how much she suffers during her entire stay in Milton, how she forces herself every single day to try look happy so her parents didn't see her suffering. I know there wasn't time for everything, but I thought she didn't seem to suffer that much in the series. One thing I loved about the book was the chance to get Mr. Thornton's point of view of the story, how he thought and why he did and said what he did. I must say I did love one of John's scenes in the series, the "look back at me" one was just perfect. To sum up: fantastic book, not that great adaptation. I'm looking forward to watching the older series.

Generally, I don't like movie adaptations because they over-write the imagery in my head. However, this one sounds brilliant! Thanks for your insight.

the bbc series has something the book doesn't.....richard armitage

This is a great review! I saw the miniseries a few years back, fell in love with it, finally read the book, re-watched the series, and I totally agree! There were some things you mentioned that I had not caught, so that was fun! Thanks so much!

I pretty much agree with you on everything here--even if the whole "if only people could learn to get along" thing in the World Fair scene is a bit too on the nose for me to really believe the addition--but I do have one grievance: the proposals. They cut out Mr. Thornton's beautiful speeches declaring his love for Margaret for, "I've not noticed the colour of this fruit," without properly relating it to Mrs. Hale being ill... What? Sometimes I feel like this scene makes Mr. Thornton look like a dunce -_- And they cut what I consider to be the most romantic moment of the whole book: when Mr. Thornton calls Ms. Hale Margaret. HE USED HER FIRST NAME AND I NEARLY DIEDDD \()/

At first I thought this was about the Civil War mini-series "North and South". So....now I have another great movie to add to my list of "must-sees".

Excellent review. You’re such a good speaker.

Ohh... good review, even though I don't agree with a lot of it. Or, I feel otherwise than the review. I asolutely loved the introduction scene in the book more than the mini series. I just loved the subtlety of the whole I don't care who you are or I don't want to know about you or the you don't matter to me at all attitude of Margaret she maintains till Thornton's proposal. I re re re read it so many times. But in the series, it's more of a shock and disgust factor. and in may ways the book is more subtle than the series. Of course you can't jus not love the series cause the cast is simply superb and I just imagine them while I re read the book and it makes it all a lot more enjoyable.

I loved the audio book a lot as well.

I love both: a miniseries and a book. But still, the book is my favourite. In the miniseries, I feel like romance is the most important part of the plot. However, a book concentrates a lot of conflict between north and south, old money and new money, workers and masters. I missed it in a miniseries.

I did not like the Mr Bell in the movie. I found him unnecessarily creepy. I felt like there was no need for him to suggest that Margaret become his wife ....it just felt wrong to me...I liked the old fatherly Mr Bell from the book. I also felt the movie made John Thornton too violent...he beats up Boucher at the beginning of the film and shoves him off somewhere in the middle. I don't really know the directors purpose or intention from deviating so far from his essential character as a fair just and honorable man. I did enjoy both the book and series but I wish it had stayed true to the spirit of the book.

Really good comparison review. I have still not read the book but I e seen the miniseries. Twice. About to make it thrice.

you're amazing!

Have you seen the 1975 movie of North and South? Very interesting to compare the book with the TWO movie versions.

We're do I found the movie

OT, but I'm curious.--You look so much like one of my friends it's uncanny. Are you Irish by chance?

You should review the older mini series I think it’s on KZfaq in parts. Though the 2004 version is best. And the actor that played Margaret’s father is in it I forget which character I watched it a while ago. But that bald guy from x men plays Mr Thornton when he was young I was surprised I thought I know this actor who is he? Anyways I think it’s from the 70’s or 80’s

It's not explained why she didn't accept his proposal. What does the book says?

I thought you were going to talk about north and south from John Jakes.

Uma sugestão, nem todo mundo que assiste , fala ou interpreta o inglês, que tal a legenda vir traduzindo pro português, fica sem meu like,