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Mary Barton

A Tale of Manchester Life
By Elizabeth Gaskell
Penguin Classics
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3.74 goodreads logo

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell is a captivating tale set in 19th-century Manchester, focusing on the struggles of the working class amidst poverty and industrial turmoil. The story follows Mary Barton, a young woman whose desires for a better life lead her to navigate love, societal expectations, and moral dilemmas. Through its vivid characters and social commentary, the novel highlights the stark contrasts between the lives of the rich and the poor during the Victorian era.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in a compelling tale set against the backdrop of 19th-century Manchester. The story offers keen insights into the struggles between the working and middle classes, intertwining themes of love, loss, and social justice, all delivered with vivid characterisation and heartfelt emotion.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Mary Barton, the daughter of disillusioned trade unionist, rejects her working-class lover Jem Wilson in the hope of marrying Henry Carson, the mill owner's son, and making a better life for herself and her father. But when Henry is shot down in the street and Jem becomes the main suspect, Mary finds herself painfully torn between the two men.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Penguin Classics relaunch

Mary Barton, the daughter of disillusioned trade unionist, rejects her working-class lover Jem Wilson in the hope of marrying Henry Carson, the mill owner's son, and making a better life for herself and her father. But when Henry is shot down in the street and Jem becomes the main suspect, Mary finds herself painfully torn between the two men.

Through Mary's dilemma, and the moving portrayal of her father, the embittered and courageous activist John Barton, Mary Barton (1848) powerfully dramatizes the class divides of the 'hungry forties' as personal tragedy. In its social and political setting, it looks towards Elizabeth Gaskell's great novels of the industrial revolution, in particular North and South.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell has been reviewed as advocating for a transformation in how individuals emotionally and mentally perceive one another, highlighting an idealistic approach. The narrative is praised for its deep engagement with social issues and human connections.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140434644

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 31 October 1996

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Edited by MacDonald Daly
  • Introduction by MacDonald Daly
  • Notes by MacDonald Daly

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 320g

Pages: 464

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Elizabeth Gaskell Fiction General Fiction In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction New Release Fiction Penguin Black Classics Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: General Fiction

About the Author

Elizabeth Gaskell (1810 - 65) was born in London, but grew up in the north of England. In 1832 she married the Rev. William Gaskell. Published in Dickens' Household Works and a lifelong friend of Charlotte Bronte, Gaskell's finest novel is North and South, also published by Penguin. Macdonald Daly is Lecturer in Modern Literature at Nottingham University. He has also edited DH Lawrence's Sons and Lovers and Kangaroo for Penguin Classics.

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