
Mary Barton
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About This Book
This is Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel, a widely acclaimed work based on the actual murder, in 1831, of a progressive mill owner. It follows Mary Barton, daughter of a man implicated in the murder, through her adolescence, when she suffers the advances of the mill owner, and later through love and marriage. Set in Manchester, between 1837-42, it paints a powerful and moving picture of working-class life in Victorian England.
Chapters (81)
- MARY BARTON:
- A TALE OF MANCHESTER LIFE.
- ELIZABETH GASKELL
- CONTENTS
- PREFACE.
- CHAPTER I.
- A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.
- CHAPTER II.
- A MANCHESTER TEA-PARTY.
- CHAPTER III.
- JOHN BARTON'S GREAT TROUBLE.
- CHAPTER IV.
- OLD ALICE'S HISTORY.
- CHAPTER V.
- THE MILL ON FIRE—JEM WILSON TO THE RESCUE.
- CHAPTER VI.
- POVERTY AND DEATH.
- CHAPTER VII.
- JEM WILSON'S REPULSE.
- CHAPTER VIII.
- MARGARET'S DEBUT AS A PUBLIC SINGER.
- CHAPTER IX.
- BARTON'S LONDON EXPERIENCES.
- CHAPTER X.
- RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL.
- CHAPTER XI.
- MR. CARSON'S INTENTIONS REVEALED.
- CHAPTER XII.
- OLD ALICE'S BAIRN.
- CHAPTER XIII.
- A TRAVELLER'S TALES.
- CHAPTER XIV.
- JEM'S INTERVIEW WITH POOR ESTHER.
- CHAPTER XV.
- A VIOLENT MEETING BETWEEN THE RIVALS.
- CHAPTER XVI.
- MEETING BETWEEN MASTERS AND WORKMEN.
- CHAPTER XVII.
- BARTON'S NIGHT-ERRAND.
- CHAPTER XVIII.
- MURDER.
- CHAPTER XIX.
- JEM WILSON ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.
- CHAPTER XX.
- MARY'S DREAM—AND THE AWAKENING.
- CHAPTER XXI.
- ESTHER'S MOTIVE IN SEEKING MARY.
- CHAPTER XXII.
- MARY'S EFFORTS TO PROVE AN ALIBI.
- CHAPTER XXIII.
- THE SUB-PŒNA.
- CHAPTER XXIV.
- WITH THE DYING.
- CHAPTER XXV.
- MRS. WILSON'S DETERMINATION.
- CHAPTER XXVI.
- THE JOURNEY TO LIVERPOOL.
- CHAPTER XXVII.
- IN THE LIVERPOOL DOCKS.
- CHAPTER XXVIII.
- "JOHN CROPPER, AHOY!"
- CHAPTER XXIX.
- A TRUE BILL AGAINST JEM.
- CHAPTER XXX.
- JOB LEGH'S DECEPTION.
- CHAPTER XXXI.
- HOW MARY PASSED THE NIGHT.
- CHAPTER XXXII.
- THE TRIAL AND VERDICT—"NOT GUILTY."
- CHAPTER XXXIII.
- REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
- CHAPTER XXXIV.
- THE RETURN HOME.
- CHAPTER XXXV.
- "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES."
- CHAPTER XXXVI.
- JEM'S INTERVIEW WITH MR. DUNCOMBE.
- CHAPTER XXXVII.
- DETAILS CONNECTED WITH THE MURDER.
- CHAPTER XXXVIII.
- CONCLUSION.
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