Show Notes
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 15 "Masters and Men", 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:Mr Hale and Margaret go to repay a visit to Mrs. Thornton. Mr Hale finally starts to talk about his wife’s health which Margaret likes, having been worried about his nonchalance. He is worried about her and feels scared that their coming to Milton will be the death of her. Margaret tries to calm him a little, but they are nonetheless both worried. When they arrive in the Marlborough Street, they are shocked to not find a large stately house, considering the wealth of Mr. Thornton. Asking a passer by, they find out that Mr. Thornton resides in the house that connects to his factory. The walls are darkened by the smoke of the factory, but inside the house, everything is perfectly clean and white, spotless. The two talked quietly together before being joined by Mrs. Thornton. Margaret tried to explain to the woman that her mother was not well enough to come, but because she tried to explain it in a way that wouldn’t make her father more worried either, she give the impression to Mrs. Thornton that Mrs. Hale could have made the effort if she could be bothered to. They talk about Mr. Thornton, and his mother declares that she doesn’t see the point in her son taking up his studies again; he should focus on his business. A man should focus on maintaining his place amongst the ranks of the merchants, and her son is known all over Europe amongst the merchant class. Mr. Hale and Margaret had never heard of him before Mr. Bell told them of him. Mrs. Thornton picked up on this and asked them flat out if they knew about him. They end up saying that Mr. Bell told them of her son. Mrs. Thornton then brings up the topic of a strike that is going to be taking place in the city of Milton. Her son is going to be incredibly busy dealing with it. Later, Mr. Thornton goes to join the Hales at their place of residence to give them a doctor’s name and address. Margaret thanks him deeply. Mr. Hale brings up the strike. Mr. Thornton explains what is happening and goes on to explain that the workers do not know what is going on behind the scenes, the only thing that they care about is that their wages are not being increased, they have no idea that the business are struggling more than in previous years. He says also have no right to know what a businessman does with his money, and that they shouldn’t care about it either. Margaret test him on this but also claims that she knows so little about economics that she cannot properly push him on the subject. They go back and forth a little bit and then Margaret brings up someone abusing the masters and Mr. Thornton presser her asking who she heard saying such things. Margaret goes back and says that if workers are kept ignorant, then it is better for the Masters. Mr. Hale tries to get his daughter to be quiet, as he hears Mr. Thornton getting offended. Mr. Thornton then tries to explain his position further and goes to say that he wishes to work to benefit both his workers and himself, but he feels no need to explain his actions to them. Mr. Thornton then leaves saying goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Hale, and then to Margaret after privately apologising to her for his tone of voice.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.
More from The Essential Reads
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Book 2 chapter 1 "Five Years Later" narrated by Isaac Birchall Subscribe 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: 1780. Tellson’s Bank in London prides itself on being “very small, very dark, very ugly, very incommodious.” The partners believe that if it were more welcoming then it would lose its status as a respectable business. It’s located at Temple Bar, where the heads of executed criminals were displayed until very recently. Jerry Cruncher, the bank’s runner awakens in his apartment, in a dodgy part of London. He begins his day by yelling at his wife, the conversation culminating with him throwing a muddy boot at her. Around 9, he and his son camp outside the bank to await instructions. The door opens and a man calls for a Porter, at which Jerry heads off to do the job, leaving his son alone. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities is one of the most sold books on the planet with over 200 million copies having been sold world wide. It is the most famous of Dickens' works and set in the bloody and violent French revolution. It blends the great history of the French revolution with the tale of a family. Raising enduring themes of imprisonment, injustice, social anarchy, resurrection, and the renunciation that fosters renewal, there is a reason that this novel has stood the test of time and has been enjoyed by readers all across the globe in many different languages.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Book 1 chapter 6 "The Shoemaker" 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:Manette talks with a very distant and quiet voice, as if it hasn’t been used for many years. He says that he is making a ladies’ shoe in the modern fashion after a template he had held. When asked his name he responds, “One Hundred and Five, North Tower.” Lucie makes her way over to him and noticing her hair, Manette opens up a knotted rag that wears around his neck and takes out some strands of hair.At first, he believes Lucie to his wife but claims that would be impossible as she is too young. Lucie then implores her father to weep for her if her voice or her hair recalls a loved one to him. She hints to him that a home far away awaits him, and that his “agony is over.” Manette collapses after this emotional event, and Lucie urges Lorry to take them back to England as fast as possible. At first, he is hesitant, but he soon agrees and heads off to arrange the affairs with Mr. Defarge. Later, they usher Mr. Manette down the stairs and into a coach and they sent off for England. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities is one of the most sold books on the planet with over 200 million copies having been sold world wide. It is the most famous of Dickens' works and set in the bloody and violent French revolution. It blends the great history of the French revolution with the tale of a family. Raising enduring themes of imprisonment, injustice, social anarchy, resurrection, and the renunciation that fosters renewal, there is a reason that this novel has stood the test of time and has been enjoyed by readers all across the globe in many different languages.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Book 1 chapter 5 "The Wine-shop" 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:The setting moves to Paris. In a street, a wine cask falls to the street and breaks, flooding it with wine, and wish people who rush to drink as much as they can. Women take off their scarves and dip it in the wine, men cup their hands to drink, and even children get their fill. The wine shop is owned by Monsieur Defarge, a man of around 30. His wife, Mrs. Defarge sits behind the counter and watches everything that goes on around her. She signals to her husband to announce the presence of an older man and a young lady. Defarge looks over the strangers (Lorry and Lucie) and pretends not to notice them as he goes to speak to some familiar faces. They all refer to each other as Jaques as a way to identify each other as revolutionaries. Defarge soon sends the men out and then Lorry goes to see the wine shop owner. They converse for a few seconds and then Defarge guides Lorry and Lucie into the main building and up the stairs. They come to a dirty landing where the three men from before are gathered, Defarge tells them to go away and is accosted by Lorry for letting the man get looked at like an animal in a zoo. Defarge responds that he trusts the men and the look of what’s behind the door will do them well. Defarge then opens the door to reveal a white-haired man making shoes in a very dark room.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities is one of the most sold books on the planet with over 200 million copies having been sold world wide. It is the most famous of Dickens' works and set in the bloody and violent French revolution. It blends the great history of the French revolution with the tale of a family. Raising enduring themes of imprisonment, injustice, social anarchy, resurrection, and the renunciation that fosters renewal, there is a reason that this novel has stood the test of time and has been enjoyed by readers all across the globe in many different languages.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Book 1 chapter 4 "The Preparation" 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:The next morning, Lorry arrives in Dover and gets out of the mail coach at the Royal George Hotel. After changing out of his travel clothes he transforms himself into his usual sixty-year-old businessman self. That afternoon, a waiter announces the arrival of Lucie Manette and says that the girl is ready to meet Mr. Lorry. Lorry meets the girl in her room and she says that she had word from the bank that some intelligence had been made respecting the small estate of her father – long presumed dead. After restating his duties as a businessman, Lorry tells miss Manette that the real reason she has been summoned to Paris is because her father has been found alive and has been taken to an old servant. Lucie is to go and restore her father to his health, and Mr. Lorry is to go and identify the man. Lucie then goes into shock, and he servant, Miss Pross rushes in to save her charge.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities is one of the most sold books on the planet with over 200 million copies having been sold world wide. It is the most famous of Dickens' works and set in the bloody and violent French revolution. It blends the great history of the French revolution with the tale of a family. Raising enduring themes of imprisonment, injustice, social anarchy, resurrection, and the renunciation that fosters renewal, there is a reason that this novel has stood the test of time and has been enjoyed by readers all across the globe in many different languages.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Book 1 chapter 3 "The Night Shadows" 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:The narrator thinks about the secrets and mysteries that each human is to the every other. Lorry, as he rides in the mail coach with the two strangers, dozes in and out of sleep. His dreams are of the inner workings of Tellson’s Bank. But the shadows passing through the coach play tricks on him, and he dreams that he is digging someone out of a grave. He converses with this spectre and learns that the man has been buried alive for nearly 18 years. Lorry tells the spectre that he has been recalled to life and asks it if it wishes to live. He also asks “shall I show her to you? Will you come and see her?” The ghost has different answers to these questions all night, sometimes claiming that he would die if he were to see this woman, and at other times he pleads to see her immediately; at other times he weeps.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities is one of the most sold books on the planet with over 200 million copies having been sold world wide. It is the most famous of Dickens' works and set in the bloody and violent French revolution. It blends the great history of the French revolution with the tale of a family. Raising enduring themes of imprisonment, injustice, social anarchy, resurrection, and the renunciation that fosters renewal, there is a reason that this novel has stood the test of time and has been enjoyed by readers all across the globe in many different languages.