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North and South, Gaskell, finished

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.

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