I see, I listen, I think. Therefore, I write.
Mr. Thornton repeatedly dreams of Margaret as Una Duessa in Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South. He dreamt of her; he dreamt she came dancing towards him with outspread arms and with a lightness and gaiety which made him loathe her … Continued
As seen through the eyes of Margaret Hale, John Thornton, the hero of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel North and South, is tall, broad-shouldered, about thirty, with a face that is neither exactly plain, nor yet handsome, nothing remarkable. To this perception, … Continued
Every time is a good time for classical literature especially those addressing women’s issues, a hot topic for modern women. We can count the works of Elizabeth Gaskell (author of the popular historical romance North and South) as an important … Continued
I sometimes feel like an anachronism because I prefer inner-directed characters. Characters I’m more likely to find in the classics. I also tend to be more moved by the prose and stories of classic writers. With some exceptions, for sure. … Continued
Margaret of the North, the first novel I published, is a historical novel. It’s a sequel to Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South, a much loved classic, at least in its form as a BBC miniseries. Why write a sequel? I … Continued
Feminism in Victorian Novels? Impossible. Not when the status of women placed them just a bit above spoiled children. But I found Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South and realized it wasn’t so. I had never heard of Ms. Gaskell until … Continued
Maybe in jest, Gaskell once said that she could title her fourth novel (North and South) “Variations on Death.” Five people die in her novel in ways fitting to the characters. I could have used a comparable title for my … Continued
Grief is for the Living. Those left behind when a loved one dies know this. In Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South, death is a main player. At least six characters, big and small, die in the course of the novel: … Continued