Margaret and her family move from their sunny country village to the bustling town of Milton. The cotton factories blacken the sky with smoke. The people seem unfriendly and rough. Margaret and her parents discover that the culture in this town is very different from the sleepy village life they are used to. Margaret's father tutors students in the classics, but finds that most people in Milton are too busy working for their bread to worry about their education. His best student is Mr. John Thornton, a local manufacturer who owns a cotton mill. He is not what London society would call a gentleman, but he wants to improve his manners and education, so he begins tutoring with Margaret's father. During their lessons, Mr. Thornton and Margaret quarrel over their different opinions, but underneath there is a strong respect for each other that could grow into something more.

This book is one of my forever favorites! Every time I reread it, I see some new layer to the story, or some new aspect of the characters, that enhances my enjoyment.

The story has wide scope since it examines how people live in different settings. Whether it is in town or country, rich or poor, abroad or at home, human nature is both universal to us all and unique to each individual. In each setting we see people who live well in their sphere and people who react badly to their circumstances. People with courage. People who give in to their fear. Lazy people. Industrious people. People with a strong sense of purpose, like Margaret and Mr. Thornton. People who just drift through life, like Margaret's mother and aunt.

I love how this story explores all these different characters and their varied personalities. They are like mirror images of each other, light and dark in each person, but some people let the dark win, and others stretch towards the light. I'm thinking specifically of Boucher and Higgins. Like two opposite sides of the same personal situation.
And then there is Margaret and her cousin, Edith. Margaret is serious, and Edith is foolish and flighty.
It's so interesting to analyze the qualities of each personality, and see how the good qualities of our heroes and heroine are brought forward by the comparison. It's really quite genius!

The plot is full of action and mystery as the Milton workers go on strike, and Margaret's brother sneaks into town running from the law. There is some suspense when a mysterious death occurs and the police begin an investigation.
We also get to see the intimate details of Margaret's home life and her close relationships with her parents. There are a lot of deaths in this story. A lot of people die, and it's very moving to see how Margaret grieves and suffers. It always makes me cry! And yet, it's a very hopeful and beautiful story full of love and courage.

I love the slow-burn romance between Margaret and John Thornton. There are so many misunderstandings between those two, but gradually they begin to appreciate the other person's good qualities more and more. John Thornton is my literary soulmate because he loves to learn, he cares about others and is generous even when they can give him nothing in return, and he is honest and loyal and strong. He is hardworking and decisive and kind. I just love him forever! Ah, swoon!

Elizabeth Gaskell's writing is, of course, phenomenal. She has such a way of drawing you into the story, putting you right into the heart and the mind of her characters. You can see all those little layers of motivation and emotion and history that form connections between each person. One small detail can change an entire scene, moving the plot in another direction or lighting up some part of a character's personality for us to discover. Her writing is completely genius!