Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life (Version 2). By Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell FULL Audiobook
Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life is Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell's debut novel, published in 1848. Set in Manchester, England, the story delves into the lives of the Victorian working class during the years 1839 to 1842. Through the experiences of two families—the Bartons and the Wilsons—the novel explores contemporary political and domestic issues against the backdrop of increased industrialization and class tensions.

## Plot Summary

The narrative opens with a meeting between two working-class families—the Bartons and the Wilsons—just outside Manchester. The patriarchs, John Barton and George Wilson, discuss Esther, John’s sister-in-law, who recently ran away. John believes that Esther has gained too much independence due to her earnings as a factory worker. The group later convenes at the Bartons’ home for tea, where they engage in discussions about social and political ideas.

Tragedy strikes when John’s pregnant wife dies in labor, which he attributes to the shock caused by Esther’s departure. Three years pass, during which Mary Barton, John’s daughter, becomes an apprentice to a dressmaker. John himself becomes involved with the Chartist trades’ union movement.

At the age of seventeen, Mary befriends a seamstress named Margaret Jennings, who is losing her eyesight. Margaret’s struggle to continue sewing while facing blindness forms a poignant subplot. Meanwhile, Mary attracts male attention: Harry Carson, whose family owns the mill where George Wilson works, takes an interest in her, while George’s son Jem is in love with Mary.

The novel vividly describes the squalid slums of Manchester, portraying the harsh realities faced by the working class during the economic depression of 1839. As the story unfolds, it highlights the stark contrast between poor factory workers and wealthy factory owners. Gaskell’s self-conscious authorial voice narrates the tale, raising questions about the purpose and nature of this voice. While Mary Barton exposes the disparities in economic life, it also emphasizes the universal human similarities that bind the characters together.

In summary, Mary Barton serves as both a social critique and a compassionate exploration of the lives of ordinary people during a transformative period in England's history .
More: Manchester, Life, Love
Death, Forgiveness, Poverty
Mill owner, Adolescence, Marriage
Murder, Trial, Verdict
Industrial politics, Working class, Victorian era



00:00:00 PREFACE
00:04:38 CHAPTER I - A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
00:25:17 CHAPTER II - A MANCHESTER TEA-PARTY
00:40:33 CHAPTER III - JOHN BARTON'S GREAT TROUBLE
01:03:10 CHAPTER IV - OLD ALICE'S HISTORY
01:26:14 CHAPTER V - THE MILL ON FIRE--JEM WILSON TO THE RESCUE
02:10:57 CHAPTER VI - POVERTY AND DEATH
02:52:30 CHAPTER VII - JEM WILSON'S REPULSE
03:12:20 CHAPTER VIII - MARGARET'S DEBUT AS A PUBLIC SINGER
03:48:11 CHAPTER IX - BARTON'S LONDON EXPERIENCES
04:24:08 CHAPTER X - RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL
04:56:32 CHAPTER XI - MR. CARSON'S INTENTIONS REVEALED
05:29:18 CHAPTER XII - OLD ALICE'S BAIRN
05:50:04 CHAPTER XIII - A TRAVELLER'S TALES
06:11:27 CHAPTER XIV - JEM'S INTERVIEW WITH POOR ESTHER
06:39:10 CHAPTER XV - A VIOLENT MEETING BETWEEN THE RIVALS
07:09:58 CHAPTER XVI - MEETING BETWEEN MASTERS AND WORKMEN
07:36:05 CHAPTER XVII - BARTON'S NIGHT-ERRAND
08:00:02 CHAPTER XVIII - MURDER
08:27:51 CHAPTER XIX - JEM WILSON ARRESTED ON SUSPICION
08:55:56 CHAPTER XX - MARY'S DREAM--AND THE AWAKENING
09:13:47 CHAPTER XXI - ESTHER'S MOTIVE IN SEEKING MARY
09:38:48 CHAPTER XXII - MARY'S EFFORTS TO PROVE AN ALIBI
10:05:57 CHAPTER XXIII - THE SUB-POENA
10:33:32 CHAPTER XXIV - WITH THE DYING
10:54:02 CHAPTER XXV - MRS. WILSON'S DETERMINATION
11:11:44 CHAPTER XXVI - THE JOURNEY TO LIVERPOOL
11:19:28 CHAPTER XXVII - IN THE LIVERPOOL DOCKS
11:36:06 CHAPTER XXVIII - ''JOHN CROPPER, AHOY!''

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