North & South

North & South is a prime example of a social protest novel, or a novel written to bring to light certain social issues that were going unnoticed. The story follows Margaret Hale, a clergyman's daughter forced into destitution. Upon moving from the south of England to the north (an area famed for its industrial development), she must deal with the major social and class differences between the two. The novel also follows the story of the family Higgins, a working class family dealing with the consequences of unionization and a mass industrial strike.  Suggested Level: US (Upper Secondary)