Margaret of the North by EJourney @eholychair
Margaret is intelligent, independent-minded, and passionate about her own concerns. But how does she carve a niche and an identity for herself within the repressive constraints of Victorian society? This sequel to Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South takes off from the concluding scene in its retelling on the BBC miniseries. It is a Victorian feminist bildungsroman (coming-of-age novel) couched in romance.
Gaskell wrote Margaret Hale as a character blossoming into one who did not fit the mold of the typical woman of her time. She exudes a natural self-assurance and a brooding intelligence that butts itself against John Thornton, the virile alpha male who is, nevertheless, vulnerable.
Margaret of the North focuses on how Margaret whittles away at Victorian repression—both self-imposed or socially-dictated. She marries John Thornton and confronts not only her place in a rapidly changing society but also her growing awareness of her persona as a woman with compelling sexual, familial, and self-actualizing needs. One who wants a voice and makes a mark.
The romance is not only in the love between John and Margaret but also in the adventure and excitement Margaret undergoes as she discovers herself, a journey that happens quietly and mostly internally.
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About the author:
EJourney is a flaneuse writing and illustrating what she sees and loves. In a past life, EJ, who has a dormant Ph.D. in the field of psychology from the University of Illinois, did mental health program research, evaluation and development. Now, she does art in various media from oils to digital paintings and writes when she feels she has something to say. Some of her musings reside in cyberspace at www.eveonalimb.com She did the “digital paintings” for this book.
What inspired you to write your book?
The North and South BBC series based on Elizabeth Gaskell‘s book, North and South sat on my Netflix queue a long time and I only tuned in on it because I wanted to clean up my queue. I nearly saw the whole series in one sitting. Then, I had to read the book it was based on. Most people, who’ve watched the series, fall for the male protagonist. I was intrigued by the female character and how she upset my views on Victorian women. Women’s issues have always been in the back of my mind—as they probably are for all women although some may not be aware of it. The story ended almost abruptly, both on the further growth of the female character and the romance. It seemed to beg for a continuation.
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