More deaths (Dad and Mr. Bell), so that Margaret can have some money and bail out Thornton in the end, just before their marriage. Great final sentence, but not a great final 100 pages. Best part of the ending occurs when Margaret returns to her beloved Helstone and south England in general, and there discovers that she misses the hustle/bustle/grime of the north--the very things she hated at first. Very believable and insightful.
General thoughts: First half of the book was much better than the last. Real conflicts in the beginning. I don't know the dissenter/Episcopal controversy, but it's a real conflict. Same with labor/management. But the last 100 pages are all a misunderstanding, not a conflict. I also got thoroughly sick of Margaret and nearly as sick of Thornton. They deserve one another!
I don't think I'll reread Scenes of a Clerical Life, at least for a while. I have good feelings about it and don't want to spoil them.
General thoughts: First half of the book was much better than the last. Real conflicts in the beginning. I don't know the dissenter/Episcopal controversy, but it's a real conflict. Same with labor/management. But the last 100 pages are all a misunderstanding, not a conflict. I also got thoroughly sick of Margaret and nearly as sick of Thornton. They deserve one another!
I don't think I'll reread Scenes of a Clerical Life, at least for a while. I have good feelings about it and don't want to spoil them.
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