North and South (with an Introduction by Adolphus William Ward)

Set against the backdrop of the industrial revolution in the fictional town of Milton, the narrative explores the stark differences between the industrial North and the agrarian South of England. The protagonist, Margaret Hale, navigates her family's relocation and the ensuing social tensions between workers and employers. As conflicts arise over labor conditions, the story delves into themes of class struggle and societal change. This influential novel, serialized in the mid-1850s, is noted for its early examination of industrialization's impact on society.