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Mary Barton is a moving Victorian novel that explores love, poverty, and social injustice in the industrial city of Manchester, England.
Main Category: Coming-of-Age
Sub-Categories: Romance | Labor relations | Social Class
About the Book:
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Mary Barton
We’re their slaves as long as we can work; we pile up their fortunes with the sweat of our brows; and yet we are to live as separate as if we were in two worlds…”
Originally published anonymously in 1848, Mary Barton is the debut novel of English author Elizabeth Gaskell.
Set in Manchester, England during the height of the Industrial Revolution, the story immerses readers in the lives of working-class families struggling against poverty, illness, and the widening divide between rich mill owners and the laboring poor.
At the heart of the novel is Mary, a mill worker’s daughter, whose choices intertwine themes of love, loss, and the search for justice in an unforgiving world.
Through vivid social realism and gripping human drama, Gaskell offers both a moving romance and a powerful critique of inequality, giving voice to those often left unheard in Victorian literature.
Mary Barton remains as compelling today as when it first appeared, inviting readers to experience the hardships, hopes, and resilience of nineteenth-century Manchester in a story that resonates with timeless questions of class, compassion, and the human spirit.
This edition of Mary Barton by Pastime Joy Publishing includes the full text of both Volumes 1 and 2, and preserves the original language and style, inviting modern readers to experience the novel as it was first written.
Special Features:
Crafted with care and formatted with attention to detail, this edition offers a luxurious reading experience designed for your comfort and enjoyment.
Printed in a clear, easy-to-read 12-point font with generous margins on cream paper, it provides a visually pleasing and immersive journey through the pages.
Beautifully bound with a captivating cover design, this book is one to treasure—a timeless classic you will enjoy for years to come!
About the Author:
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Elizabeth Gaskell
Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–1865) was an English novelist and biographer, renowned for her keen social insights and vivid portrayals of 19th-century England.
Her acclaimed novels include Mary Barton, North and South, and Cranford, which delve into themes of class, gender, and industrialization.
A close friend of Charlotte Brontë, Gaskell authored the first biography of Brontë, offering a personal glimpse into the life of the reclusive author.
Through her compelling storytelling and empathetic characterizations, Gaskell remains a significant figure in Victorian literature.
