North and South captures the social divide and how the manufacturing and trading industries were revolutionizing in the 1850s. Margaret Hale, the daughter of a respectable clergyman, and her family move from the south of England to the industrialized northern town of Milton after her father leaves the church because of his conscience. Margaret is appalled with Milton and the vulgar, uncouth ways of tradesmen and merchants, whom she also sees as uncivilized and cruel. However, will she change her mind after she meets and gets to know the dashing Mr. John Thornton? There are many twists...

"My Lady Ludlow," by Elizabeth Gaskell, expands on material found in "Cranford." In the most predominant part of the story Lady Ludlow now explains her reasons for believing that the ability to read among those without "hereditary principles and honourable training" is detrimental and hazardous. Gaskell uses a story within the story to dramatically illustrate Lady Ludlow's reasoning.

Beginning with the death of James Leigh on Christmas Morning, 'Lizzie Leigh' tells the story of his family, and in particular his estranged daughter Lizzie, who disappeared from their lives when she became pregnant out of wedlock. When James Leigh dies, the family go to Manchester to look for her. There Lizzie's brother Will falls in love with the respectable Susan Palmer but feels he cannot declare his love because of his sister's disgrace. Elizabeth Gaskell here deals with important issues that were often ignored during the Victorian era.