North and South and Shifters

Epigraph

On its appearance in "Household Words," this tale was obliged to conform to the conditions imposed by the requirements of a weekly publication, and likewise to confine itself within certain advertised limits, in order that faith might be kept with the public. Although these conditions were made as light as they well could be, the author found it impossible to develop the story in the manner originally intended, and, more especially, was compelled to hurry on events with an improbable rapidity towards the close. In some degree to remedy this obvious defect, various short passages have been inserted, and several new chapters added. With this brief explanation, the tale is commended to the kindness of the reader;

"Beseeking hym lowly, of mercy and pite,

Of its rude makyng to have compassion."(1)

Elizabeth Gaskell, 1855

The first time I read North and South, I was forced to by a friend. She told me about the miniseries, and then refused to loan me the DVDs until after I'd read the book. I checked out a copy from the campus library on Friday afternoon, and stumbled into work Monday morning exhausted because I'd been too busy reading to stop and sleep. We talked about the book all through our shift, then stayed up late watching the entire miniseries. (Then we watched it again that weekend after I'd caught up on sleep.)

The first time I read a mashup novel it was—surprisingly enough—for a final paper. I downloaded it thinking it wouldn't actually work with the subject—it did—or that it would be good—it was. Though that first mashup novel is still the best I've come across, I keep reading them because I find the concept fascinating. I love the idea of finding out what happens to these characters we know and adore when their world gets changed just a little bit. What about their personalities is intrinsically them, and what's a matter of circumstance? What choices stay the same, and what relationships will survive the experience?

I tried to explain the impulse I have to keep reading these mashups to a purist friend of mine and she said, "If you believe all that, then why aren't you writing one?" I laughed at her. Hard. Turns out the joke was on me, because I couldn't get the thought of my head. With this brief explanation, my mashup tale is commended to the kindness of the reader;

"And as touching the translation

Out of French, however the English be,

All thing is under correction,

With supportation of your benignity"(2)

In other words:

And as touching the mashing

Away from source, however the new text be,

All works is are open to adjusting,

With the support of your kind generosity

AV Harlow, 2015

EPIGRAPH NOTES

(1) Lines 381-2 of John Lydgate's The Churl and the Bird. Originally published about 1478.

(2) Lines 383-6 of The Churl and the Bird.

(3) Cover photo from Lizchen-R on DeviantArt. Modified with an action by Lieveheersbeestje.