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mysteriesofmar's review
5.0
my penguin classics edition lied and i'm not happy about it.
(if you have the penguin classics 1996 edition, the synopsis on the back is awful and should be disregarded)
a sort of precursor to gaskell's most famous work, north and south, mary barton begins delving into the struggles of the impoverished working class in 1840's england with the story of mary barton and those around her. in terms of learning about just how difficult life was during this period in time, i much prefer reading this than to a lecture in a class where the professor displays a bunch of depressing pictures on the projector.
there's a lot that goes on in this novel, which made it hard for me to put down when i had a chance to read it. each character is well-developed and has their own motivations and arcs throughout the book. recommended for classic literature readers who are a little fatigued when it comes to english historical fiction.
(if you have the penguin classics 1996 edition, the synopsis on the back is awful and should be disregarded)
a sort of precursor to gaskell's most famous work, north and south, mary barton begins delving into the struggles of the impoverished working class in 1840's england with the story of mary barton and those around her. in terms of learning about just how difficult life was during this period in time, i much prefer reading this than to a lecture in a class where the professor displays a bunch of depressing pictures on the projector.
there's a lot that goes on in this novel, which made it hard for me to put down when i had a chance to read it. each character is well-developed and has their own motivations and arcs throughout the book. recommended for classic literature readers who are a little fatigued when it comes to english historical fiction.
motions1ckn3ss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
hadeanstars's review
4.0
A very pleasant, almost gentle read, similar to North and South, which I also enjoyed. It is the same setting, Manchester in the Industrial Revolution, with many of the same social themes, handled deftly and with a humanitarian spirit.
joanaad46's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mansimudgal's review against another edition
4.0
Another beautiful work by Gaskell!
After North and South I yearned for another book by the author, Mary Barton seemed to be the perfect pick.
.
Gaskell paints the picture of Manchester with its factories, workmen and employers. The picture is grim with rampant hunger, starvation and poverty amidst a stark class divide. The book revolves around Mary, a beautiful but vain and ambitious girl whose father is a member of the Trade Union and is a staunch supporter of worker rights. He shares a hatred towards the Masters most of whom seem to be apathetic to worker conditions. One such Employer is the Carson Family whose son is attracted to Mary and the girl wanting comforts for her father and herself by a future rise in status proceeds with this friendship all along with another childhood friend in the picture; loving Jem who comes from a humble family such as hers.
.
Gaskell’s England is real, it’s dirty and with starving manufacturing towns. This reality is portrayed in a beautifully albeit bleak manner. The story is one one romance, of crime, of helplessness and hate. Such ugly hate so as to kill a man and what happens later.
I loved every bit of it, especially all the characters; Mary is vain, naive and pretty self absorbed in places which can be alienating for a reader but pretty apt for her age. John Barton is a man of principle and pretty straightforward and empathetic along with being short tempered and quick to hate. Jem is a wonderful person among other things.
.
It’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Book! More bleak than North and South for sure but the struggle shown here has a certain authenticity which the former lacks.
I’ll highly recommend both!
After North and South I yearned for another book by the author, Mary Barton seemed to be the perfect pick.
.
Gaskell paints the picture of Manchester with its factories, workmen and employers. The picture is grim with rampant hunger, starvation and poverty amidst a stark class divide. The book revolves around Mary, a beautiful but vain and ambitious girl whose father is a member of the Trade Union and is a staunch supporter of worker rights. He shares a hatred towards the Masters most of whom seem to be apathetic to worker conditions. One such Employer is the Carson Family whose son is attracted to Mary and the girl wanting comforts for her father and herself by a future rise in status proceeds with this friendship all along with another childhood friend in the picture; loving Jem who comes from a humble family such as hers.
.
Gaskell’s England is real, it’s dirty and with starving manufacturing towns. This reality is portrayed in a beautifully albeit bleak manner. The story is one one romance, of crime, of helplessness and hate. Such ugly hate so as to kill a man and what happens later.
I loved every bit of it, especially all the characters; Mary is vain, naive and pretty self absorbed in places which can be alienating for a reader but pretty apt for her age. John Barton is a man of principle and pretty straightforward and empathetic along with being short tempered and quick to hate. Jem is a wonderful person among other things.
.
It’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Book! More bleak than North and South for sure but the struggle shown here has a certain authenticity which the former lacks.
I’ll highly recommend both!
pssurmer's review
4.0
This book is wonderful as literature and fascinating as social history. I loved it!
motts4totts's review
4.0
Mary Barton was actually quite enjoyable. That’s it I guess. I still hate this class
kenzi_verner's review against another edition
Just made it to chapter 10. Maybe just wrong time but it was unrelentingly sad and I just wasn't feeling it.
ashleymae_'s review
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My favourite aspect of this novel is the romantic subplot. I am aware that this is perhaps an insipid thing to favour in a social problem novel which seeks to stir about class consciousness, however the characterisation of Mary Barton and James Wilson is so charming that I was invested in their love story the most! Their love for one another was juvenile, but spotlessly virtuous. I also loved to see Mary develop empathy for Jem and a consciousness of her own deep-rooted feelings, at the same time I understood her concerns about the rich suitor / poor suitor situation as a woman seeing her father starve, descending into addiction and despondency. Overall I have little to critique in this novel; although it is slow to start and Gaskell may have refined / re-written the conclusion in a way that is more “‘realistic.” Mr Carson’s desire to help the common man in the end of Mary Barton may not have been realistic, although I understand how one may argue that the death of his son was the sacrifice required to shake his world and change his heart.