My Book Boyfriend: Mr Thornton

My Book Boyfriend, hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader, is an awesome meme highlighting the many fictional boys who make us swoon. This week I'm drooling over the dashing Mr Thornton from Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South.

Why Thornton Rocks (My Knickers Socks)

• He owns a mill in Milton, a fictionalised version of ye olde Manchester. This means he's rich, but he uses his money to take care of his widowed mother and younger sister. 
• He's practical, honest and cares about people, despite his sometimes hard and stern demeanor and position as "master".
• He had to leave school to work and support his family when his father committed suicide after losing all their money. If that doesn't tug at your heart, how about the fact that he's doing everything he can now to read and learn, as an adult? He just wants to be seen as a gentleman (especially in Margaret's eyes).
• Don't let the stiff collar fool you - it contains a hella passionate man whose devotion to the woman he loves is unwavering. Even when she's a total biatch to him. 
• He's played to perfection by Richard Armitage in the 2004 TV adaptation.

Swoon-worthy Quotes (Spoiler Alert!)

"He shook hands with Margaret. He knew it was the first time their hands had met, though she was perfectly unconscious of the fact."

"He could not forget the touch of her arms around his neck, impatiently felt as it had been at the time; but now the recollection of her clinging defense of him, seemed to thrill him through and through—to melt away every resolution, all power of self-control, as if it were wax before a fire."

"'I choose to believe that I owe my very life to you - ay - smile, and think it an exaggeration if you will. I believe it, because it adds a value to that life to think - oh, Miss Hale!' continued he, lowering his voice to such a tender intensity of passion that she shivered and trembled before him, '...to think that I owe it to one... whom I love, as I do not believe man ever loved woman before.' He held her hand tight in his. He panted as he listened for what should come."

Photos don't do Thornton justice, though - especially as played by Richard Armitage, coz dayum his voice makes me swoon. Pass the smelling salts!