I spent last sunday curled up on the couch watching this series that A. sent me! It was very good!
The story it's about the contrast between the living in the south and the north of England, the south is more about landed gentry and the north about the industrialization. The clash between the two occurs when Margaret Hale moves to Milton, in the North, and discovers a way of life and priorities very different from the ones she is used to. She is shocked when she visits a cotton mill and finds the owner, Mr Thornton, beating one of his employees who had been caught smocking in the weaving room and also later when she tries to befriend a mill worker and his daughter. This friendship will make her aware of the workers's difficulties and will lead her to a strained relationship with Thornton, Margaret's feelings will only change after he has proposed and she has refused him and as she slowly gets to know him better. It was a beautiful series, a wonderful BBC adaptation with some very good actors, I can't resist mentioning Sinead Cusack. And of course now I have a new author to discover - Elizabeth Gaskell who wrote the book the series was based upon.
So for all of the above I highly recommend it! Not to mention the eye candy that is Richard Armitage! I totally agree that all that intensity makes him a worthy rival of Colin Firth's Mr Darcy!
This is one of the best historical adaptations made by the BBC these past few years. It's success was completely unexpected! I really enjoyed the constrast between the North and the South, John and Margaret and the fact we can still see some hope beneath all that dirt and sorrow... They managed to stay within Gaskell's vision of the story and avoid all the easy traps of extreme drama.
ReplyDeleteOk, I think I need to see it again.;-)
Worthy rival indeed, Ana!! Richard Armitage is very sexy. Imagine another historical adaptation with him and Colin Firth... *mouth-watering*
I really have to thank you for the recommendation. I loved it and I'm looking forward to read the book now. I'm sure it will be even better!
ReplyDeleteHmm where could we find a story those 2 very strong minded and proud gentleman could fit in. It can't be easy...
I really enjoyed how Armitage could show so much repressed passion under that cold exterior. And the glimpses of his personality that we catch from his conversations with his mother...