Review Novel Klasik North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell

North and South is a Victorian realism novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell. It is quite dark and satire, but spiced up by romance. The story begins in South, the protagonist Margaret Hale has lived happily in beautiful southern village, Helstone. She was the daughter of a Clergyperson, but suddenly her father leaves the Church of England because his unexplained doubts and cricis conscience, so he decided to become a tutor in a nothern town, Milton. 

Milton is an industrial town that is mostly in cotton manufacturing. The Milton atmosphere dominates the main story, most of the smokiness and pollution. It's opposite from southern Helstone which is clearer, greener and fresher. There is a wealthy and influential manufacturer, John Thornton, master of Marlborough Mills, whose destiny is intertwined with Margaret. John Thornton is one of Mr. Hale's student. Margaret and Thornton are at odds with each other. He saw the beauty of Margaret, but was annoyed with her initial prejudice.

‘A more proud, disagreeable girl I never saw. Even her great beauty is blotted out of one’s memory by her scornful ways.’  (John Thornton, Pg. 99)

https://www.morganodriscoll.com/art/laurence-stephen-lowry-industrial-town/57184

Margaret finds the town of Milton is strange, the new condition that she must deal with. She is upset by its poverty and dirty environment. The poor people of the south are not as terrible as in the north. Margaret befriends the daughter of the worker, Bessy Higgins. When Bessy worked at a cotton mill, she was too polluted by the 'fluff'. The workers must face dangerous working condition at the cotton mill.

‘Fluff,’ repeated Bessy. ‘Little bits, as fly off fro’ the cotton, when they’re carding it, and fill the air till it looks all fine white dust. They say it winds round the lungs, and tightens them up. Anyhow, there’s many a one as works in a carding-room, that falls into a waste, coughing and spitting blood, because they’re just poisoned by the fluff.’ ( Page 118)

Margaret tried to please herself by talking with Bessy, Since then, Margaret became concerned about poverty and the health of manufacturing workers, and then, she had the opportunity to hear about the strike (the workers refuse to work) from the perspective of a working family. Because her father was a good friend of John Thornton, Margaret became close to the Thornton family. She met Mrs. Thornton, John's mother and his sister, Fanny. Gaskell shows two sides and two points of view between the workers and the masters. We see the way the workers view their masters, and what the workers thought about the master.

....Th’ women are as bad as th’ men, in their savageness, this time. Food is high,—and they mun have food for their childer, I reckon. Suppose Thorntons sent ’em their dinner out,— th’ same money, spent on potatoes and meal, would keep many a crying babby quiet, and hush up its mother’s heart for a bit!’ (Bessy, pg. 177) 

‘Yes; the fools will have a strike. Let them. It suits us well enough. But we gave them a chance. They think trade is flourishing as it was last year. We see the storm on the horizon and draw in our sails. But because we don’t explain our reasons, they won’t believe we’re acting reasonably. We must give them line and letter for the way we choose to spend or save our money...."

'Do you give your servants reasons for your expenditure, or your economy in the use of your own money? We, the owners of capital, have a right to choose what we will do with it.' (John Thornton, pg. 137)

Technological advances that drove the industrial revolution made entrepreneurs gain multiple profits, with very fast and large production. The workers in the north were no longer slaves, they worked with machines. But workers are humans, not machines. If there's something that they disagree with the master, they must riot and rebel because it's the only way the master would hear. If they united, they have the power to shut down industrial. So, this could be a weapon against the master when they want a higher wage.  

The North and South is not only about northern versus southern, but also about master versus workers. If it was a competition, who would be the winner? If there's any win-win solution to both of the welfare? The balance of industry lies in the workers and masters. A mill cannot run without a master, and a master can not operate a mill alone. Master and workers are like a symbiosis mutualism. They must work together to achieve the balance. But, the thing is, how the master treats them. Do they treat as a slave or just mere machines?

‘Mr. Thornton,’ said Margaret, shaking all over with her passion, ‘go down this instant, if you are not a coward. Go down and face them like a man. Save these poor strangers, whom you have decoyed here. Speak to your workmen as if they were human beings. Speak to them kindly. Don’t let the soldiers come in and cut down poor-creatures who are driven mad. I see one there who is. If you have any courage or noble quality in you, go out and speak to them, man to man.’ (Margaret, pg. 209)

I think Margaret's existence in Milton could be a mediator between master and workers. She is strong-minded, incredibly cares for working-class people, but she is very bold when she speaks about humanity and poverty to upper-class people. The story about poverty caught the reader's sympathy. What I like about John Thornton is, he is a family man. I admire his hard work from zero to become a successful businessman. He is a figure who puts his mother first, quite like mama's boy but he is a kind of man who doesn't talk much but acts. There's a character that I do not quite like. She is Mrs. Hannah Thornton, because she was underestimated Margaret, she considers Margaret a peny-less woman and do not equal to her son. 

This is my first experience reading Elizabeth Gaskell novels. So long I've been curious about her writing. I really enjoyed my reading process. Obviously, it's not disappointing, I love it so much, it's really expanding my 19th Victorian reading which I like the most. Sure, I will read many of her masterpieces novels in the future.

Fun fact: Elizabeth Gaskell wanted the novel to be titled after the heroine, Margaret Hale, but Charles Dickens, the editor of this series, insisted on North and South.

Rating Ruang Buku Megga : ✬✬✬✬✬ (5/5)

​Title : North and South

Author : Elizabeth Gaskell

Publisher : Penguin Popular Classics

Year :  1994
Pages :  521 pages

ISBN : 9780140620191

Review dan Ulasan Novel Klasik Tess d'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Tess of d'Urbervilles is a romance classics novel, naturaly portray the peasant life of fictional town called Wessex. The protagonist, a young Teresa Durbeyfield is innocent and pure, because what her family believe that they are decesdent of d'Urbervilles, the old house who came from Normandy with William The Conqueror as appears by Battle Abbey Roll. Tess live with her drunkard father, mother and her little brother and sister.

She had errand to seeking for financial support and fortune, she began a journey towards d'Urbervilles  mansion to klaim kin. Little does she know, at d'Urbervilles mansion, her apparence captivated in Alec d'Urbervilles' eyes, a men who turns up her world up-side down. Tess gets a job as his mother poultry keeper.  Tess's life at Tantridge was quite pleasant, her income may help to support  family. But, an incident came, she impregnated by Alec, the incident is not by her will and she does not love Alec, Tess is swore that she never ever see him again. Tess return home and give birth Alec's child, the poor child named Sorrow only given a short life. 

Thomas Hardy Challenge

THOMAS HARDY

• 
  Thomas Hardy, Lahir di Stinsford, Dorset, Inggris pada 2 Juni 1840, sampai meninggalnya tanggal 11 Januari 1928 karena sakit pleuritis.
• Novelis dan penyair di era Victoria. 
• Tema Novelnya Victorian realism, Novelnya sangat kritis, terutama terhadap menurunnya status masyarakat di pedesaan di Inggris di era Victoria.
• Seorang Naturalis, Sebagian besar karyanya, berlatar di daerah semi-imajiner bernama Wessex, diwarnai deskripsi puitis dan fatalisme.
• Melahirkan 18 judul novel, 11 judul puisi dan 1 naskah drama
• Novel-novel nya sering masuk nominasi Nobel Prize hingga 25 nominasi, namun tidak pernah menang.

Hardy's Cottage 

Hardy's Cottage adalah tempat terpencil yang indah Hardy tepat di luar Higher Bockhapmton, dibangun oleh kakek buyut Hardy pada tahun 1800 dan hanya sedikit yang diubah secara eksternal sejak saat itu. Ini adalah tempat yang populer bagi wisatawan untuk mengunjungi dan melihat di mana Hardy menulis Under the Greenwood Tree dan Far from the Madding Crowd.

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/HistoricSitesinDorset/

Dafar Novel Thomas Hardy :

Novels of  Character and Environment (Karakter dan Lingkungan)

• The Poor Man and the Lady (1867, tidak diterbitkan dan hilang)
• Under the Greenwood Tree (1872)
• Far from the Madding Crowd (1874)
• The Return of the Native (1878)
• The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886)
• The Woodlanders (1887)
• Wessex Tales (1888, kumpulan cerita pendek)
• Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891)
• Life's Little Ironies (1894, kumpulan cerita pendek)
• Jude the Obscure (1895)

Romances and Fantasies (Fantasi dan Romansa)

• A Pair of Blue Eyes (1873)
• The Trumpet-Major (1880)
• Two on a Tower (1882)
• A Group of Noble Dames (1891, kumpulan cerita pendek)
• The Well-Beloved (1897) (pertama diterbitkan secara berseri sejak 1892)

Novels of Ingenuity (Akal budi)

• Desperate Remedies (1871)
• The Hand of Ethelberta (1876)
• A Laodicean (1881)

Review The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Anne Brontë

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is the second and the last novel by Anne Brontë. The novel published in 1848 under pseudonym, Acton Bell. Many elements of the novel follow her experience as a governess. The Theme of this book is Love and Marriage, also Anne Brontë raised the alcholicsm issue and it's effect on the household.

This novel follows the story of Gilbert Markam, a twenty-four-year-old farmer, in love with a mysterious widow, the new resident of Wildfell Hall, Helen Graham. She only live with her little son and a housekeeper. Her appearance arouses great interest among the neighbours of the nearby village. They visit her one by one, but the stranger, who introduces herself as Mrs. Graham, is very welcoming.

Later Gilbert and Rose Markham visited Wildfell Hall, they were captivated by Helen's studio and so many paintings. Arthur, her son said that her Mother sell all the pictures to London and somebody sends them money for living. Her strict seclusion soon gives rise to gossip in the neighbouring village and she becomes a social outcast, in fact that Helen is more like to be alone and exile.

"I am not sure the loneliness of the place was not one of its chief recommendations - I take pleasure in watching people pass the windows; and I like to be quiet."  (Helen)

Helen is a contradictive character, In just a short while, his presence has already caused controversy. The villagers started baseless rumors about the relationship between Helen and Mr. Lawrence, who rented Wildfell Hall. We know that the villagers is like to judging, and talking rumors.

Helen's out-of-the-box thinking is different from the women in the village, but makes Gilbert love Helen even more. Gilbert tends to like women who are smart and agree with him. However, the news of the scandal still really affected Gilbert, who was basically very moody and jealous. He is jealous of Mr. Lawrence so he did what he shouldn't have done to Mr. Lawrence. Everything about Helen made Gilbert curious, he wanted to follow up on his relationship with her, what kind of relationship she had with Mr. Lawrence? who is the father of her child? and he wants to know more. Then Helen gave him her diary, everything Gilbert wanted to know was in it.

I love how Anne Brontë describes Helen Graham's thoughts about marriage and parenting, also making Helen make her own independent life is somehow contrary to the early 19^th century norms, she pursues an artist's career and makes an income by selling her pictures. In second part of the book, in her diary we will meet the crucial of Helen's previous life.

“If you would have your son to walk honorably through the world, you must not attempt to clear the stones from his path, but teach him to walk firmly over them - not insist upon leading him by the hand, but let him learn to go alone.” (Helen)

and about marriage:

".... When I tell you not to marry without love, I do not advise you to marry for love alone – there are many, many other things to be considered. Keep both heart and hand in your own possession, till you see good reason to part with them; and if such an occasion should never present itself, comfort your mind with this reflection: that, though in single life your joys may not be very many, your sorrows, at least will not be more than you can bear. Marriage may change your circumstances for the better, but in myprivate opinion, it is far more likely to produce a contrary result" (Helen)

I love how little Arthur as the connector of the relationship between Helen and Gilbert. I really admire little Arthur !! Well, this is the result from a child who was educated by his mother well. Helen really made a wise decision to keep her children away from the bad influence of their father, who was an alcoholic and hedonist.

"Dear Arthur! What did I not owe to you for this and every other happy meeting? - Through him, I was at once delivered from all fonnality, and terror, and constraint. In love affairs, there is no mediator like a merry, simple-hearted child - ever ready to cement divided hearts, to span the unfriendly gulf of custom, to melt the ice of cold reserve, and overthrow the separating walls of dread fonnality and pride." ( Gilbert )

At the very last, I love everything in this book, I would read a hundred novels of Anne Brontë if it's really exist. This book is my favorite, every line, every conversation is meaningfull.  

Rating Ruang Buku Megga : ✭✭✭✭✭ (5/5)

Title : The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Author : Anne Brontë

Publisher : Wordsworth Classics 

Year : 2001 (First Published 1848) 
Pages : 394 pages

ISBN : 978-1-85326-488-7

Review - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer

Juliet Ashton, a writer who is promoting her new book, written under the pseudonym Izzy Bickerstaff. The book is a collection of humorous stories about life during World War II. However, Juliet still wanted to write according to her heart's desires,

In mid-January, Juliet, who lived in London, received a letter from Dawsey Adams, a foreigner from Guernsey. Dawsey knows Juliet's address from a book entitled Selected Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb which once belonged to Juliet, after a long journey the book fell into Dawsey's arms.

"I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers. How delightful if that were true. "

(Juliet Ashton) 

Guernsey is an island in the Chanel archipelago on the border between England and France. Juliette is impressed that Adams is part of the literary book club The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The correspondence between Juliet and Dawsey continues, Dawsey tells that The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a book club that was accidentally created during the German occupation, but the club continues to this day even after the war is over. Juliet was immediately interested in their stories and experiences during the war, then she began corresponding with several island residents, they convinced Juliet to come visit Guernsey.

"That’s what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a

book, and that tiny thing will lead you on to another book, and another bit there will lead you on to a third book. It’s geometrically progressive—all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment." (Juliet Ashton)

Each character and member of the Guernsey book club, has a dark background about World War II. In the difficult and tense war situation, The Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society book club meeting was a positive way for them to forget the meaning of war, loss and loneliness, so that they finally found simple happiness. With Juliet's arrival on the island of Guernsey, Juliet's enthusiasm for writing immediately increased and finally Juliet found writing material that truly suited her heart's desire.

This is the first time I have read an interactive epsitolary novel, although it does not have the normal chapter division, but the collection of letters is ordered chronologically based on the date of the letter and told through various correspondence between characters. At first it was a bit confusing because there were too many points of view, but over time you got used to it because each character had a unique writing characteristic. I read this book in the English version published by Bloomsbury.

Rating Ruang Buku Megga: ✬✬✬✬ (4/5)

Review Novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

"Last night I dreamed I went to Manderley again. It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive, and for a while I could not enter, for the way was barred to me."

That is the famous first line of Rebecca, book by Daphne Du Maurier that was released in 1938. I've never read a book by Du Maurier before, and I've never read a book with an unidentified heroine. first a little grating, but I believe the author's has a motive in it. We already knew how the ending in chapter 1, but as soon as we start reading chapter 2, we will start to understand what is happening.

"We can never go back again, that much is certain. The past is still too close to us."

The Unnamed, or the narrator, is a young orphan girl who works as Mrs. Van Hopper's companion while she is on vacation in Monte Carlo. A wealthy Englishman named Maxim de Winter, a widower in his forties, strikes up a friendship with the unnamed narrator, a gullible young woman in her early twenties. She decides to marry him after a fortnight of romance, and after the nuptials and honeymoon, she travels with him to his mansion in Cornwall, the lovely estate Manderley. The narrator later become The New Mrs. De Winter and the mistress of Manderley. 

"We came to Manderley in early May, arriving, so Maxim said, with the first swallows and the bluebells. It would be the best moment, before the full flush of summer, and in the valley the azaleas would be prodigal of scent, and the bloodred rhododendrons in bloom."

There is an evil housekeeper in Manderley named Mrs. Danvers. She didn't like The New Mrs. De Winter, because she devoted to the late Mrs. Rebecca De Winter who died in accident last year.  She makes repeated psychological attempts to undermine the narrator, implying quietly that she will never match Rebecca's charm, beauty, and sophistication. When these things are made, the narrator becomes envious.