Angieville

You're welcome.

Morning, guys! Today I'm over at Melanie's Musings helping to wrap up her fabulous North & South Celebration . Melanie (aware of my strong feelings for the series) kindly invited me to contribute a post to her two-week-long love letter to all things North & South . So I'm talking about the study in contrasts that sucked me in and made me a permanent fangirl of the series. We'd love it if you stopped in to say hi and tell us why you love it, too.

In light of Tuesday's Armitage lovefest post , I thought it only right to point you to this little gem today. I love it so much I want to hug it. It's not long, but it's guaranteed to brighten your day. Thanks to Larissa for the link! Mr. Darcy & Mr. Thornton have a conversation . . .

When it comes to gorgeous, incredibly effective covers, these three sort of hit it out of the park. Vintage Classics knows how to package a book is all I can say and I want--no, I need --these three editions in my personal library. Covers, both good and bad, have been on my mind lately and these examples just go to show what magic can happen when you let talented graphic designers who've--wait for it--Read. The. Books. create new, attractive, and inventive covers. All it takes is a glance at the twining roses set against the brick wall backdrop on this cover of North and South to send me into John-and-Margaret raptures. Similarly, the broken windowpane on Wuthering Heights instantly evokes Cathy's ghost calling out his name. As for Jane Eyre , the silhouette is perfect and I want to go re-read it right now. When you get a chance, wander on over and check out their complete catalogue . I'm a particular fan of  vintage Dracula . 

Not long ago we had a splendid discussion about book to film adaptations , our favorites, and those to be avoided at all cost. When I made my list of favorites, I had only just barely watched the excellent BBC adaptation of North and South . I longed to put it on my list, but did not as I have not actually read Elizabeth Gaskell's novel --a fact I really should remedy. Gaskell is one of the few rather glaring absences in my 19th century reading. For those of you wondering why the BBC would adapt a Civil War novel, this is not the John Jakes doorstopper or the 80s miniseries starring Patrick Swayze. This is a classic Victorian novel of the same name, which focuses on a middle class young woman who moves with her family from the south to a grim, industrial town in the north of England. There she encounters a cotton mill owner by the name of John Thornton and is thereby caught up in the roiling conflict between lower class workers and upper class masters that is on the brink of teari...