Another type of craving...

Most people gets some kind of cravings during their pregnancy, most often something food related. But not me. Ok the occational sweet tooth or chocolate, but that I get all the time. Yesterday the biggest craving of the all hit. And it has nothing to do with food. No, I crave Mr Thornton in Elizabeth Gaskell's novel North and South. Or rather Richard Armitage playing Mr Thornton in BBC's version. Perhaps he's more known as Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood.

I blame the craving on a friend online who had just found N&S and fallen in love. After that the discussion was unevitable. Perhaps it was led in the wrong forum (Becoming Jane Fansite) but we hopless romantics stick together even across the literary borders. The book has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time actually, but it wasn't until I stumbled on the adaptation on Youtube when I remembered it. I bought it years ago in Englind when I work there, in hope of it being the book behind North and South from the 80s with Patrick Swayze, but alas I was mistaken. I think I read about a chapter before giving up. This was not the civil war in America, this was somewhere in England. So I quit. If Mr Thornton had been present I'm sure I had continued, but he is not introduced until later. So I missed qoutes like this:

“Oh, my Margaret--my Margaret! no one can tell what you are to me! Dead--cold as you lie there, you are the only woman I ever loved! Oh, Margaret--Margaret!” Inarticulately as he [Mr Thornton] spoke, kneeling by her, and rather moaning than saying the words, he started up, ashamed of himself, as his mother came in. She saw nothing, but her son a little paler, a little sterner than usual.

Who doesn't want to be spoken to like that? Serious hotness! Unfortunate the object for this passionate speech is unconcsious after being hit by a rock meant for Mr Thornton. This is not included in the adaptation, however. But the look in Armitage's eyes after kneeling by Margaret's side is awesome.

I have now read the book and it is one of my favourites. I am a hopeless romantic and always will be. So now it is time for a N&S marathon before my hubbie gets home. Do you think he can manage a date with Armitage for me? Perhaps not...

All pics are taken from Richard Armitage Online.