One major difficulty of the original novel is the sheer number of subplots (the Boucher suicide, the Frederick Hale drama). The Penguin adaptation streamlines these subplots. It focuses tightly on the conflict between and Margaret . For a student, this means you won't lose track of who is who.
Elizabeth Gaskell was a British novelist, short story writer, and Unitarian minister's wife. Born in 1810, Gaskell was a keen observer of the social world around her, and her writing often reflects her deep concern for the welfare of the working class. North and South is widely regarded as one of her masterpieces, alongside Mary Barton and Cranford . North And South Penguin Readers