EPISODE · May 31, 2026 · 21 MIN
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 18 | Audiobook
from The Essential Reads · host Isaac Birchall
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 18 "Likes and Dislikes", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :Dhttps://ko-fi.com/theessentialreadshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinSummary:When Margaret returns home, she finds two letters on the table and starts to read one of them, from her aunt, when her father walks in and asks about the doctor’s visit. Margaret is avoidant, causing her father to worry a little and press her for more information. Margaret sees that her father is worried for his wife, and during that evening, he constantly brings the conversation around to his wife’s health. After supper, he paces back and forth worrying for his wife and then goes to see her. When she wakes up, he goes to read the letters to her, the other one is from Mrs. Thornton, asking them to a dinner. Though Mrs. Hale is too ill to attend, she insists on her husband and daughter going. The following day, Mr. Hale and Margaret discuss this dinner a little more together before going about their days.At the Thornton residence, Mr. Thornton asks his mother which guests are going to be attending the dinner. Mr. Thornton tells his mother that he is very worried for Mrs. Thornton after what Dr. Donaldson told him. Fanny tries to jest with her brother about the Hale family but only ends up vexing him. Mrs. Thornton gives her opinion on the family which vexes John too, but he doesn’t react to his mother’s comments. Fanny then says that Margaret is not accomplished, “she does not play.” After all this, John tells his mother that he wishes she would like Margaret… His mother asks if he is thinking about marrying her, “a girl without a penny,” to which he replies that she would never have him even if he did want her. Mrs. Thornton then says that she has too high an opinion of herself to accept her son. He closes the conversation by saying that he believes that Margaret could soon be in need of motherly care. The conversation then turns to the strikes. Mr. Thornton’s men have not yet struck and will work out their week; if they were to leave their posts beforehand, he would take them all to court for breech of contract. Mrs. Thornton suggests that he gets replacement workers from Ireland to spite his disrespectful workers. He says that the Americans are getting cheaper fabric into the market and thus need to pay everyone less to be able to compete, but the workers don’t know this. Mrs. Thornton apologises for choosing to host a dinner while all of this is going on, which her son agrees with, but it had to be done. After everyone else goes to bed, Mr. Thornton stays awake thinking and pacing.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.
What this episode covers
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 18 "Likes and Dislikes", narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :Dhttps://ko-fi.com/theessentialreadshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinSummary:When Margaret returns home, she finds two letters on the table and starts to read one of them, from her aunt, when her father walks in and asks about the doctor’s visit. Margaret is avoidant, causing her father to worry a little and press her for more information. Margaret sees that her father is worried for his wife, and during that evening, he constantly brings the conversation around to his wife’s health. After supper, he paces back and forth worrying for his wife and then goes to see her. When she wakes up, he goes to read the letters to her, the other one is from Mrs. Thornton, asking them to a dinner. Though Mrs. Hale is too ill to attend, she insists on her husband and daughter going. The following day, Mr. Hale and Margaret discuss this dinner a little more together before going about their days.At the Thornton residence, Mr. Thornton asks his mother which guests are going to be attending the dinner. Mr. Thornton tells his mother that he is very worried for Mrs. Thornton after what Dr. Donaldson told him. Fanny tries to jest with her brother about the Hale family but only ends up vexing him. Mrs. Thornton gives her opinion on the family which vexes John too, but he doesn’t react to his mother’s comments. Fanny then says that Margaret is not accomplished, “she does not play.” After all this, John tells his mother that he wishes she would like Margaret… His mother asks if he is thinking about marrying her, “a girl without a penny,” to which he replies that she would never have him even if he did want her. Mrs. Thornton then says that she has too high an opinion of herself to accept her son. He closes the conversation by saying that he believes that Margaret could soon be in need of motherly care. The conversation then turns to the strikes. Mr. Thornton’s men have not yet struck and will work out their week; if they were to leave their posts beforehand, he would take them all to court for breech of contract. Mrs. Thornton suggests that he gets replacement workers from Ireland to spite his disrespectful workers. He says that the Americans are getting cheaper fabric into the market and thus need to pay everyone less to be able to compete, but the workers don’t know this. Mrs. Thornton apologises for choosing to host a dinner while all of this is going on, which her son agrees with, but it had to be done. After everyone else goes to bed, Mr. Thornton stays awake thinking and pacing.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.
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North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 18 | Audiobook
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