I saw the film, or rather the series produced by the BBC, I read the book, listen to music ... all this is really beautiful! I just discovered this author and I love. I was already a fan of Jane Austen and the time. Elizabeth Gaskell brings something else, it just is not romantic, it's interesting humanly and socially. I agree that this is far from antiquated and outdated. By cons you need a solid level of English: it is an original, full and more classical literature, so complicated, but so rich !!