The Essential Reads

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 52 "Pack Clouds Away" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinPodcast Link: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/13b1qP3WhCWxam9yc49vIF?si=4e279ef4f5f143a0⁠Summary:Edith is fretting in her room while waiting for the meeting between Margaret and Mr. Lennox to finish. At the sound of footsteps, she interrogates her brother-in-law and asks him to stay for lunch which he refuses. He shuts down her inquiries about a proposal and says that they have been talking business and business only. Before he leaves, he says that he will be back tomorrow with Mr. Thornton to finalise the business.The next day, to Margaret’s shock, Mr. Lennox does not come. Thornton is there alone and after an hour, Margaret determines to lead the meeting herself. She says that she will be sorry to lose him as a tenant. She goes on to explain a business deal wherein she would lend 1857 pounds to Mr. Thornton that is just sitting in the bank, he could pay her back at a better rate of interest and also continue working Marlborough Mills. She goes to look for more papers but is arrested by Thornton saying her name. She drops her head, and at a second call of her name she drops her head again. He comes close and whispers that if she does not speak, he will claim her as his own, and whispers once again her name. She falters at this and claims that she is not good enough for him, to which Thornton says that he too does not feel worthy enough for her. He places her into the same position she was in when she protected him from the rioters. He then say that he wishes to show her something and reaching for his pocketbook he shows her some pressed roses, she at first doesn’t know what they are, and after a minute she realises that they are from Helstone and that Mr. Thornton visited there. He says that he wanted to see that place where Margaret grew up. She tries to take them from him, and he replies that she will have to pay for them, and Margaret announces that she doesn’t know how she could possibly tell Aunt Shaw, Thornton joking that she will say “That Man?!” to her announcement, to which Margaret replies that Mrs. Thornton will say “That Woman?!” to his own announcement. The End.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 51 "Meeting Again" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinPodcast Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/13b1qP3WhCWxam9yc49vIF?si=4e279ef4f5f143a0⁠Summary:It is a very hot summer evening, and Edith goes into Margaret’s room. Edith tells Dixon that she should get some pomegranate blossoms for Margaret’s dress instead of the ones that she picked. She wonders how Mrs. Hale let Margaret wander around Milton by herself. When Margaret returns, Edith tells her that Mr. Lennox has had a meeting with Mr. Thornton in London and has invited him to dine with them. Margaret says that she isn’t hungry, but Edith forces her to dress for supper and join them. Downstairs, Mr. Lennox tells Margaret the reason for Mr. Thornton’s visit, his giving up the mills, and shares his fears that Edith will not accept him. When Thornton enters, Mr. Lennox introduces him to the party. He is still handsome and noble like, though a little aged from the stress of his business affairs. He greets Margaret happily, and they then go to dinner.Margaret is quiet at dinner and only asks Mr. Thornton about her friends in Milton. Mr. Lennox and Mr. Thornton talk together throughout the majority of the dinner, and Mr. Lennox tells Margaret that she was very ill when she first arrived in London but is now fully recovered. A politician is also at dinner, and enquires after Mr. Thornton, and after establishing who the newcomer is, talks with the Northern guest. Mr Thornton is not looking at Margaret, giving her an opportunity to study his face. Only once does he look at Margaret, after a comment from Mr. Lennox, but he instantly catches himself and feels a little anxious.After supper, Mr Thornton and the politician converse together, and Mr. Lennox talks with Margaret. He tells Margaret, that the politician is very pleased with Thornton. They then listen to the conversation between the two other men. It seems that the politician was recently in Milton and heard some good things about Thornton. Thornton says that he has grown close to the hands in his factory. The topic of Mr. Thornton’s business failures comes up, and Mr. Lennox tries to save Thornton from an embarrassment, but Thornton is more than happy to talk about his failures. He talks very positively about his hands and says that even though they don’t always understand why he makes certain decisions as a master, being closer to his workers has made all of their relations much easier but clarifies that he doesn’t believe this closeness will rid the world of strikes. He then perks up and comes over to Margaret to tell her that he received a letter from Higgins and other hands saying that if he were to start a new factory, that they would readily work for him again. Margaret is very pleased with this news and tells Thornton so. At the end of the evening as the men are leaving, Margaret slows Mr. Lennox down to ask him to come to visit her the following day at 11, causing the man to leave very pleased.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 50 "Changes At Milton" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Milton is continually moving and everyone is either anxious or happy, and the happy are very few. The businesses are struggling to compete against American competition. People think that Mr. Thornton is safe, but it is not true. He has spent his profits on expanding his business and has not got any left to keep himself afloat. Mrs. Thornton is reading a paper and talking with her son, he wishes to make something of himself overseas, and cares little for what he is in Milton, until he met Higgins that is. He has grown closer to Higgins, and while they differ on points, they have realised that they are both human. In spite of this however, Thornton is behind on his deadlines because of the strike and the importation of the incompetent foreign hands. Trade is now bad too, Thornton losing half the demand that he had before. Thornton is very stressed because of this and becoming more direct and hard that he had been over the past few months. Higgins one day calls to Thornton and asks him if he has heard of Margaret. He is confused at first, but then remembers, and it is like the summer wind is back in his face. He tells Higgins that Margaret is his Landlord and says that Margaret is among friends in London. Higgins inquires more about Margaret, and then suddenly asks if young Frederick had been cleared. Thornton has no idea about this, and Higgins clarifies more that Frederick was over in England for Mrs. Hale’s death but stops saying more when Higgins feels that Mr. Thornton did not know about Frederick’s visit. Thornton is overjoyed with this news. Thornton’s agent in America’s trusted house went down and put Thornton into more disarray. Thornton spends all night, every night, studying what he can do. One morning, his mother asks him what he has been doing. Thornton finally says to his mum that trade is bad and he says too that no man of his shall be put out by his collapse. He alone shall go out of business. He was offered a speculation, but it is a very risky one and will ruin him if it fails. Mrs. Thornton then goes on to wonder why her son always ends in misery; no girl and no Business. Mr Thornton asks his mum for some kind and gentil words that she used to say to him when he was a child, but she refuses. Thornton lays his face down on the table, depressed for a moment, but soon recovers himself. The revival of trade should be given up. Fanny’s husband is vexed at Thornton’s refusal of the speculation, and Thornton concludes that he should close his business. He has many offers open to him, but refuses to go into business with other people, wanting to only be a manager if not possible to start his business again. After 9 days, it is found out that his brother in law’s speculation was successful, and made him an incredibly wealthy man…SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 49 "Breathing Tranquility" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Edith asks her husband if Margaret has inherited Mr. Bell’s estate, but he is oblivious to the answer and assumes that he cannot have had much money as a simple fellow at a college. The following week, Margaret receives a note with the exact amount of money to be provided to her, an astronomical sum. They all allow Mr. Henry Lennox to be her advisor, and he spends much time in close contact with Margaret, teaching her about her wealth’s uses. Edith teaser him about the time with Margaret, and she wishes to see them joined. Margaret does not go to Spain and joins her family in Cromer where her family lazily enjoys the break from the city. As time goes on, Margaret believes less and less that Mr. Bell could have heard about Margaret’s reasons for lying from Mr. Bell. While her family shops, and rides, and enjoys themselves, Margaret spends her time sitting on the beach thinking about her future. When the family gathers at dinner, Margaret is deemed moped, and Edith suggests that Henry Lennox joins them there when he comes back from Scotland. Margaret’s time on the beach is not lost however, and she soon recovers her old looks of health. Mr. Henry Lennox remarks this change and becomes more enamoured with her and hopes that his time with her will have a happy ending for him. Henry Lennox, in his work for Margaret had visited Milton, and he talks all about it to Margaret which she loves. Mr. Lennox was very impressed with the city and talks with none of the prejudice that she once held for the town. When they return to town, Margaret determines to take her life into her own hands and no longer be subservient to her aunt. Edith warns Margaret not to become too free spirited and says that if she could only find her a husband, then Margaret could not fly away from her. Margaret says that she is unsure if she should ever find a husband. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 48 "Ne'er To Be Found Again" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:The dinner parties in London are full of Edith’s beautiful friends, the Captain’s knowledge of the day, and Henry and his friends’ wit and cleverness. The dinners are delightful, but Margaret is forever dissatisfied. The conversations are not deep, and it is the depth that Margaret searches for and needs. One day, Henry Lennox finally addresses some of his first real words to her. They talk about some comments made by one of his friends, which Margaret disliked. It is clear that Henry still holds affection for Margaret. All this time, there is no word from Mr. Bell’s going to Milton, and Margaret starts to feel that he must have transacted his business in writing and will thus not be going any time soon as Mr. Bell does not deem Margaret’s message to Thornton immediately important. A letter comes saying that he should be coming to London the following week to talk over some business with Margaret and also visit some doctors. When the following week comes however, Mr. Bell’s attendant sends a message to inform Margaret that Mr. Bell will not be coming to London as he is very ill, and the doctors believe that he should already be dead by the time that Margaret receives the correspondence. Margaret does all that she can to try and see the man before he goes, but by the time she and the captain arrive in Oxford, Mr. Bell was already cold. She is upset, but also happy to have seen the room that she should forever associate with her Godfather and her Father. They head back to London that night. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.