North and South

But she had learnt, in those solemn hours of thought, that she herself must one day answer for her own life, and what she had done with it; and she tried to settle that most difficult problem for women, how much was to be utterly merged in obedience to authority, and how much might be set apart for freedom in working.

Margaret

…… he was uneasy and cross, unable to discern between jest and earnest; anxious only for a look, a word of hers, before which to prostate himself in penitent humility. But she neither looked not spoke. Her round taper fingers flew in and out of her sewing, as steadily and swiftly as if that were the business of her life. She could not care for him, he thought, or else the passionate fervour of his wish would have forces her to raise those eyes, if but for an instant, to read the late repentance in his. He could have stuck her before he left, in order that by some strange overt act rudeness, he might earn the privilege of telling her the remorse that gnawed at his heart. It was well that the long walk in the open air wound up this evening for him. It sobered him back into grace resolution, that henceforth he would see as little of her as possible, - since the very sight of that face and form, the very sounds of that voice (like the soft winds of pure melody) had such power to move him from his balance. Well! He had known what love was - a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that furnace he would fight his way out into the serenity of middle age, - all the richer and more human for having known this great passion.

John

Nord et Sud était depuis très longtemps dans ma PAL, une envie soudaine d’ambiance victorienne a fini par me décider. Il n’y a pas à dire, je préfère une Gaskell à une Austen (pas taper !). Si la romance reste le sujet principal du roman, l’intrigue est renforcée par un propos de fond, pas uniquement basé sur la petite bourgeoisie anglaise et ses soucis futiles, mais aussi et surtout sur l’aspect social de l’ère industrielle. Gaskell confronte deux milieux sociaux, totalement opposés culturellement, et évoque largement les conditions de (sur)vie des ouvriers du nord de l’Angleterre, sans doute pas meilleures que celles les travailleurs du sud, néanmoins assez différentes et difficiles pour mettre le doigt là où ça fait mal. Nos deux principaux protagonistes sont issus de ces deux milieux, et la compréhension mutuelle n’est pas évidente. Les droits des ouvriers, les avantages sociaux, le profit à tout prix au détriment de la santé des travailleurs, les contraintes des patrons pas toujours en adéquation avec les besoins et le bien-être des ouvriers, on s’aperçoit que les conflits et les inégalités sont toujours d’actualité. En bref, la délicatesse et le raffinement d’une Austen et le réalisme sombre d’un Zola. J’adhère !