Welcome, readers, to the Elizabeth Gaskell bicentenary blog tour! This page is dedicated to Gaskell’s first novel, Mary Barton.
Though Gaskell published Mary Barton anonymously in 1848, it was soon discovered she was the author. It was highly criticized for being far too harsh on factory owners. It was evident Gaskell focused her talents on the larger social issue of labor and the human element, but the book was also complimented with a love story and dash of mystery.
Mary Barton is said to have been inspired by the death of Gaskell’s son. Urged to write by her husband, Gaskell took up the pen and the novel was born. This information is parted as a warning, dear reader, because death plays a major roll in Gaskell’s first novel.
Mary, a dressmaker, is in love with the rich, young son of the mill owner. Jem is a hard working lower class boy completely in love with Mary. This alone is fodder for a delicious novel, but Gaskell finds the room to invent characters with zeal, lust, passion, heartache, pain, addiction and exhaustion.
The contrast between the rich and poor is vivid. Wilson, one of the ancillary characters in the novel, begs for the help of one of the factory owners at his home. While waiting in the owner’s kitchen, Wilson reflects on what he sees:
‘The servants seemed very busy with preparations for breakfast; but good-naturedly, though hastily, told him to step in, and they could soon let Mr. Carson know he was there. So he was ushered into a kitchen hung round with glittering tins, where a roaring fire burnt merrily, and where numbers of utensils hung round, at whose nature and use Wilson amused himself by guessing. Meanwhile, the servants bustled to and fro; an outdoor manservant came in for orders, and sat down near Wilson. The cook broiled steaks, and the kitchen-maid toasted bread, and boiled eggs.’
The impact is startling in its quality mainly because Wilson just came from an all night vigil of a man dying of typhus in a house that he feels a pig wouldn’t be fit to live in.
'He lay on straw, so damp and mouldy, no dog would have chosen it in preference to flags; over it was a piece of sacking, coming next to his worn skeleton of a body;'
The dialect Gaskell employs is superb and admittedly, I was thankful I utilized an annotated version for I would have been lost in a few places for the spelling of some words completely left me fluxomed.
Mystery lovers will enjoy Mary’s mad rush to clear the name of an accused murderer and discover where her heart truly lies. Those who have read or seen North and South will undoubtedly discover the similar theme of master and servant, the overall division of classes and the fight against it. The theme doesn’t get old, but it does get slapped in your face a bit with Mary Barton.
I’d recommend this book as a nice place to start if you are new to reading Elizabeth Gaskell.
You can find it on:
- Amazon.com
- BarnesandNoble.com
- FREE on Google Books
- FREE on project Gutenburg
- Mary Barton information on Wikipedia
Follow this link to the next blog on the Elizabeth Gaskell bicentenary blog tour by Laura – The Calico Critic with a review about Cranford, the 2007 BBC series starring Judi Dench.
To read even more about Elizabeth Gaskell, take a few more stops on the blog tour!
- 1.) Elizabeth Gaskell’s life and times: Vic – Jane Austen’s World
- 2.) Mary Barton (1848) Book: Kelly – Jane Austen Sequel Examiner
- 3.) Cranford (2007) Movie: Laura – The Calico Critic
- 4.)Ruth (1853) Book: Joanna – Regency Romantic
- 5.) North and South (1854–5) Book: Laurel Ann – Austenprose
- 6.)North and South (2004) Movie: Maria – Fly High
- 7.)Sylvia’s Lovers (1863) Book: Courtney – Stiletto Storytime
- 8.)Wives and Daughters (1865) Book: Katherine – November’s Autumn
- 9.) Wives and Daughters (1999) Movie: Elaine – Random Jottings
- 10.)The Life of Charlotte Bronte (1857) Book & (1973) Movie, The Brontes of Haworth: JaneGS – Reading, Writing, Working, Playing
- 11.Mr. Harrison’s Confessions (1851) Book: Alexandra – The Sleepless Reader
- 12. My Lady Ludlow (1859) Book: Alexandra – The Sleepless Reader
- 13.Cousin Phillis (1864) Book: Alexandra – The Sleepless Reader
- 14.) Your Gaskell Library – Links to MP3′s, ebooks, audio books, other downloads and reading resources available online: Janite Deb -Jane Austen in Vermont
- 15) Plymouth Grove- A Visit to Elizabeth Gaskell’s home in Manchester: Tony Grant – London Calling
Comments
A very perceptive analysis.I have not read the book, I probably will now. It is so important that you have emphasized the contrast between the well off and the poor and working class with your two quotations from the story. I don't think this is an exaggeration by the way. The comfortable ,"reading classes,"would have been aware of the poor and seen beggars on the streets and heard pleas to give charitably from their church pulpits no doubt, and then given to assuage their consciences but the comfortable have never really known what it is to be poor. You have to really look. That is what Elizabeth Gaskell did, she really looked and is merely reporting back. No, that is no exaggeration. And by the way the poor do not choose to be poor and they cannot generally help themselves.
All the best,
Tony
This was the second book of Mrs. Gaskell's that I read. She certainly saw life with a clear eye and was evidently impassioned to bring the truth to readers.
My first exposure was the BBC Adaptation of North & South and then of course the book. I am glad that I read Mary Barton second for I was better prepared for the death and dire circumstances that I found in Mary Barton.
It is an amazing first effort from an amazing writer.
Thank you for sharing!
I actually wouldn't start with mary Barton as especially the first 80 or so pages might turn people off: they are a bit slow compared to her other works. I did love Mary Barton in the end, but I do think it is clearly her first book and might scare people away from an author that deserves a lot more readers.
I did not know there was an annotated verision of Mary Barton. That's is something I will look for.
Felicia
Thanks for this review of Gaskell's Mary Barton--I liked it well enough when I read it, but think Gaskell developed tremendously as an author in subsequent book. I must say, though, Jem is one of my favorite of Gaskell's heroes.
I found the dialect pretty challenging as well and referred to the notes constantly.
I read this many many years ago. It is the only Gaskell I have never reread because, as I recall, it was just too depressing!
Great review Kelly. I am intrigued to read it. I have enjoyed her other novels. Her style is much more detailed than Austen's. Each is a master of their craft. Thanks again for participating in the blog tour.
Cheers, Laurel Ann
Great Review. I personally am a fan of Mary Barton but then again I have never met a Gaskell novel I did not like. Thanks!
I have only read North and South. It seems I have a lot of reading to do.
Thanks for the review. I never read Mary Barton, but I definitely will get the annotated version when I do. Thanks for the suggestion.
Excellent review and I only wish there would be a companion adaptation of the novel, because the novel also has many elements of suspense to grab the attention of a wider public
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