StoryPDF
StoryPDFNorth and SouthElizabeth Gaskell

North and South

Elizabeth Gaskell

Complete text
NovelEnglish

Margaret Hale leaves the southern home she knows when her father's decision takes the family to an industrial northern town. Encounters with the manufacturer John Thornton and with mill workers confront her with conflicts between employers, labor and the assumptions she brings to both.

52 sections182,048 wordsAbout 13 h 47 min
Read nowDownload PDF

About North and South

The story places household duties beside public disputes, showing how arguments about work reach people through illness, money and personal loyalty. Margaret and Thornton repeatedly misread one another across social differences. Their conversations become more revealing when compared with the actions each takes outside the other's immediate view.

Reading focus

Compare Margaret's judgments of industrial life with the perspectives of workers and employers she comes to know.

This reading edition contains 182,048 words in 52 original sections. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.

Author: Elizabeth Gaskell. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.

Opening excerpt

“Wooed and married and a’.”

Read the complete opening section

Contents

All sections
  1. CHAPTER I. “HASTE TO THE WEDDING.”20 min
  2. CHAPTER II. ROSES AND THORNS.15 min
  3. CHAPTER III. “THE MORE HASTE THE WORSE SPEED.”18 min
  4. CHAPTER IV. DOUBTS AND DIFFICULTIES.19 min
  5. CHAPTER V. DECISION.22 min
  6. CHAPTER VI. FAREWELL.12 min
  7. CHAPTER VII. NEW SCENES AND FACES.15 min
  8. CHAPTER VIII. HOME SICKNESS.18 min
  9. CHAPTER IX. DRESSING FOR TEA.8 min
  10. CHAPTER X. WROUGHT IRON AND GOLD.16 min
  11. CHAPTER XI. FIRST IMPRESSIONS.14 min
  12. CHAPTER XII. MORNING CALLS.11 min
  13. CHAPTER XIII. SOFT BREEZE IN A SULTRY PLACE.12 min
  14. CHAPTER XIV. THE MEETING.10 min
  15. CHAPTER XV MASTERS AND MEN.29 min
  16. CHAPTER XVI. THE SHADOW OF DEATH.14 min
  17. CHAPTER XVII. WHAT IS A STRIKE?15 min
  18. CHAPTER XVIII. LIKES AND DISLIKES.15 min
  19. CHAPTER XIX. ANGEL VISITS.21 min
  20. CHAPTER XX. MEN AND GENTLEMEN.17 min
  21. CHAPTER XXI. THE DARK NIGHT.14 min
  22. CHAPTER XXII. A BLOW AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.24 min
  23. CHAPTER XXIII. MISTAKES.12 min
  24. CHAPTER XXIV. MISTAKES CLEARED UP.10 min
  25. CHAPTER XXV. FREDERICK.19 min
  26. CHAPTER XXVI. MOTHER AND SON10 min
  27. CHAPTER XXVII. FRUIT-PIECE.12 min
  28. CHAPTER XXVIII. COMFORT IN SORROW.32 min
  29. CHAPTER XXIX. A RAY OF SUNSHINE.11 min
  30. CHAPTER XXX. HOME AT LAST.23 min
  31. CHAPTER XXXI. “SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT.”19 min
  32. CHAPTER XXXII. MISCHANCES.9 min
  33. CHAPTER XXXIII. PEACE.10 min
  34. CHAPTER XXXIV. FALSE AND TRUE.9 min
  35. CHAPTER XXXV. EXPIATION.28 min
  36. CHAPTER XXXVI. UNION NOT ALWAYS STRENGTH.20 min
  37. CHAPTER XXXVII. LOOKING SOUTH.19 min
  38. CHAPTER XXXVIII. PROMISES FULFILLED.24 min
  39. CHAPTER XXXIX. MAKING FRIENDS.17 min
  40. CHAPTER XL. OUT OF TUNE.24 min
  41. CHAPTER XLI. THE JOURNEY’S END.22 min
  42. CHAPTER XLII. ALONE! ALONE!20 min
  43. CHAPTER XLIII. MARGARET’S FLITTIN’.17 min
  44. CHAPTER XLIV. EASE NOT PEACE.19 min
  45. CHAPTER XLV. NOT ALL A DREAM.5 min
  46. CHAPTER XLVI. ONCE AND NOW.35 min
  47. CHAPTER XLVII. SOMETHING WANTING.10 min
  48. CHAPTER XLVIII. “NE’ER TO BE FOUND AGAIN.”9 min
  49. CHAPTER XLIX. BREATHING TRANQUILLITY.11 min
  50. CHAPTER L CHANGES AT MILTON.17 min
  51. CHAPTER LI. MEETING AGAIN.13 min
  52. CHAPTER LII. “PACK CLOUDS AWAY.”6 min

Reading & download help

Is this the complete North and South?

This edition contains the complete English literary text, with 52 sections and 182,048 words. This reading edition preserves the checked English text and its section order. No study notes have been added.

Which PDF should I choose?

A4 is designed for 210 × 297 mm paper; US Letter for 8.5 × 11 inch paper. Both contain the same complete text, selectable text and section bookmarks.

Can I read without signing up?

Yes. Online reading and both PDFs are free. Reading settings and progress stay on this device.

Edition details and corrections.