I’m slightly underwhelmed, but that may be because I’ve heard too many comparisons to Pride and Prejudice. They are too entirely different books, and the comparison does injustice to both of them. N&S was a great exploration of class issues - in fact I’m surprised it was written early as it was. Gaskell does a fantastic job showing the aristocracy, the merchants, and the workers in their full humanity. She shows what is so admirable about the new world brought on by the Industrial Revolution - the way both merchants and workers are more self-sufficient and free - but she also cautions how they need to see their fate in common. That was so well done. Even the subplot of Frederick plays in to that, with the theme that seamen should have the right to mutiny against a captain who abuses his power. Gaskell was definitely ahead of her day. 

But the romance was was rather oblique. It felt like the two lovers almost never had any direct conversation. They always observed each other at a bit of a distance, and were totally hampered by societal expectations about acceptable ways for them to interact. It was very frustrating. A and then the whole thing was resolved in literally the last two pages! 

The constant succession of deaths became too much and finally started feeling like the way for the author to move the plot along. 

There was much to admire in this novel, and it is well worth reading. But it does have some flaws.