What's On

Online Panel – Why do we love North and South? Literature, Love and Lust

Finale to our North and South Season

Is it the love story? Perhaps it’s the independence and curiosity of the heroine Margaret Hale? What about the vulnerability of John Thornton, ‘kind yet a master’? Or maybe it’s the gritty backdrop and the fight between working people and the factory owners? Exactly what is it about North and South that has created so many fans, captured so many hearts and brought about a wealth of fanfiction? We want to know!

 Join us for this special celebration of the original book by Elizabeth Gaskell and the 2004 BBC TV series with a unique panel exploring the characters, context and legacy of this extraordinary ‘condition of England’ novel. We’re joined by journalists, fanfiction writers and researchers for readings, talks and prizes to share the love of all things North and South. And we want you to have your say by putting questions to our panel – look out for more info on our social media.

The event will be chaired by Caroline Malcolm-Boulton, journalist, writer and North and South Fan. Panelists will be writers Trudy Brasure and Elaine Owen and Gaskell Society speaker Elizabeth Williams.

The event will be approx 90 mins long including time for questions.

The Speakers

Caroline Malcolm-Boulton, also known as The Scribbler CMB, has always cherished the classics and is now a fanfic writer and journalist, striving to introduce as many people as possible to Gaskell’s work. 

Trudy Brasure fell in love with the BBC’s North and South in 2009. She has published two N&S variation novels since and currently runs a blog for those who can’t get enough of Gaskell’s story.

Elaine Owen began to write Pride and Prejudice fan fiction in 2014 and has published many titles based on both Jane Austen and North and South.

Elizabeth Williams taught in a variety of institutions and has been chairwoman of the Gaskell Society and a trustee of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House.

Wednesday 16 November, 7-8.30pm

£7 per ticket

**NB Refer to your e-ticket for joining instructions and links. Please check spam/junk folders, in case emails are diverted there. Ticket sales will cease one hour before the event starts. **

You can also support the house by buying a copy of North and South from our online shop via this link.

If you have any questions about this event, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is run by Manchester Historic Buildings Trust (charity no. 1080606) and all money gained through private tours, talks, room hire and ticket sales goes towards the ongoing maintenance and running costs of the house. If you would like to support the house with an additional donation you can do so via this link.

16th Nov 2022

7pm - 8.30pm

Mr Thornton is coming to tea

North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell