Mary Barton
Mary Barton, Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel, was published anonymously in 1848 and set in the Manchester she knew as a minister's wife. John Barton, a mill worker and union man, watches his neighbors starve during the hard years of the late 1830s and early 1840s while the masters seem untouched, and his bitterness hardens into politics. His daughter Mary, flattered by the attentions of the mill owner's son Harry Carson, keeps at a distance the young engineer Jem Wilson, who loves her. When violence breaks out between the two worlds, Mary is forced to act. Gaskell writes with close knowledge of working homes and with open sympathy for the poor. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Mary Barton
Mary Barton by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Mary Barton online?
Yes. Mary Barton opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Mary Barton free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Mary Barton is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Mary Barton in the public domain?
Yes. Mary Barton by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Mary Barton?
About 10 h 47 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Mary Barton?
Mary Barton by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
