After the death of his wife and the disappearance of one of his daughters, millworker John Barton hopes for a better life for his daughter, Mary. Young and lovely, Mary has caught the attention of the son of a wealthy business owner, Carson. Soon after setting her mind on marriage to Carson, Mary begins to realize her true feelings lie with Jem Wilson, an intelligent young man who is quietly, but passionately, in love with her. As Mary navigates the difficulties of a working-class life, Jem's life is put in danger, and it is up to Mary to find a way to rescue him.
Author Elizabeth Gaskell penned Mary Barton after witnessing the devastating effects of the industrial revolution on the working class in England. Similar in theme to her popular novel North and South, Mary Barton combines a political message along with a sincere and touching love story.
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