I read the book and watched the BBC adaptation with Richard Armitage - the latter being the reason for reading the book in the first place. It is very interesting, though the book in particular is so dark - every chapter someone died, so it seemed at one point. The series was still showing the harsh realities of industrialism but seemed a bit less depressing, made for a modern audience's sensibilities and with a bit more romance.
What really struck me in the book was the terrible working conditions, something Gaskell seemed to be wanting to draw attention to as a genuine social issue. It's probably why it is such a classic novel :D