I can see benefits to both, and I've done both, although I remember seeing a film version of Wuthering Heights before reading the novel--and that was inordinately helpful, since the novel is utterly confusing on a first read, especially at the time when I was trying to read it.

I've actually been looking for N&S (the novel) and, for some reason, haven't been able to find it. I've seen Wives and Daughters and Cranford but no North and South. Very odd, that.

North and South is printed by Penguin Classics - so even though very few bookstores stock it, any should be able to order it in for you. :)

I highly recommend the novel, brilliant social commentary, delicious narrative and just a delight to read. :)

I only wonder why the works of Austen and the Brontes et al are still so well known and yet this is not, despite being, in my opinion anyway, far superior. Hmmm...

I ordered my N&S from amazon.com from here.

I also agree with you about watching the film version of Wuthering Heights before reading the book. I watched the version with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche.

Oh, I have the exact same guilt thing. I actually read North and South between seeing episodes 2 and 3 of the series, because I wanted to finish it before I saw all the series. Plus I've always felt bad that I saw the 1995 P&P before I read the book - I made sure to read all the other Austen novels before seeing any more adaptations.

So, no. It's not just you! Nor is it irrational. Well, maybe, but you're not the only irrational one :D.

Sometimes I see the movie first then want to read it, and sometimes I read the books then find out about the movies. I've read some of the Jane Austen books before seeing them. But I had gotten the large box set of A&E movies and watched those, then decided to read the books that I hadn't read yet.

Sometimes I set a goal of finishing the book before the Movie comes out, but usually I end up missing it in the theater when I do that. I intended on reading North and South before I knew there was a movie, just because I liked Wives and Daughters, but as it ended up I didn't start it until I'd seen most of the movie.

Guess I'm trying to say it's slightly irrationally, but I'm guilty of it too. My goal is to read it and to see it, and the order doesn't really matter.

I've read all of Austen, but I cheated with the Brontes.

Are there movies of the books other than Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights?

I could have sworn someone did a film version of Villette, but don't quote me on it.

Ooooh, I'd love to see that. Villette is an amazing story.

Must read it again!

Ooooh, I love your Jeeves and Wooster icon. :)

Is it bad not to feel guilty about it? Because I don't. I have read quite a bit in my live and I love to read so that isn't the issue. The thing is that I absolutely adore to watch the movies/miniserie for the immediacy that means just seat in front of a screen and simply watch. After that, if I've liked what I've seen I try to read the book to check what it's different and what's not, I even try to see previous productions and sometimes I look for fan fiction too. There are times that is the opposite situation, but sincerely it usually is the way I've described. However, I don't feel guilty at all. The surprise that gave me not knowing what was going to happen in Pride and Prejudice, Wives and Daughters and North and South was priceless. I suspected the happy ending but until they reach it... all that happens in the middle, I didn't know what it was, and I loved that. I don't have a previous idea of how John Thornton should act or if Richard Armitage capture the character nicely (I think he did a marvelous job, but I haven't read the book yet -yet being the important word there-). What I'm trying to say is that both positions have their advantages and disadvantages and that mine works well for me... although I can't help but think that maybe I'm not bothered by the fact that I haven't read the books because I am not a native English speaker and those aren't classics that I should have read in school or something, as it may be case for some of you. Well, this is just my two cents.

I actually just bought a copy of North and South, in prep for the DVD coming out here. It's not insane.

I've read all of Jane Austen's novels, and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, and Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. I read all of these after I saw the films/miniseries, because I either did not know about them before hand, or I had never been exposed to them enough to actually feel inclined to read them.

I see nothing wrong with watching a film/miniseries before reading the book it's based on, although I can see why reading the book first may help because you can create your own image of each character without the character's image from the film/miniseries getting in the way.

I feel like that! :)

I've seen loads of things that have been made into TV adaps or films & haven't read the books! :)

I'm such a lazy bugger!!! :)