Mary Barton
A Tale of Manchester Life
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Mary Barton
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Narrated by:
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Juliet Stevenson
About this listen
Exclusively from Audible
Following the death of his wife and the government's refusal to pass his local trade union's chartist petition, John Barton sinks into a depression so deep that not even his doting daughter can lift him out of it. Seeing the poverty that her family has been reduced to and the desperation in her father's eyes, Mary Barton realises she must reject the proposal of her working-class lover, Jem. Instead, she sets her sights at a master's son, the wealthy heir of a Manchester mill, Henry Carson, in the hope that his situation will improve her own.
In a shocking turn of events, Mary discovers Mr Carson has been shot and her former lover, Jem, accused of his murder. As life-altering secrets emerge and the lives of those around her are put on the line, Mary must decide who to trust and who to denounce.
Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel, Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life, is an emotive condition of English work in which she artfully intertwines the socio-political struggles of the 'hungry forties' with elements of a classic love story. Mary Barton is a pioneering work of fiction which has ensured that Gaskell's name will forever be included in a list of England's greatest authors. Its success was such that it even won the attention of Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë, forging a great working relationship between the writers, and later leading Gaskell to write Brontë's biography.
Narrator Biography
Multi-award winning actress, Juliet Stevenson has graced the stage and screen with a myriad of powerhouse performances for over 40 years. Aged nine, she developed a passion for the spoken word after performing a reading of a WH Auden poem in front of her entire school. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and later became a member of its artistic council. Her theatre experience is vast and includes parts in Measure for Measure, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Burn This and Death and the Maiden.
She is also known for her film career in works such as Bend It Like Beckham, Emma, Truly Madly Deeply and Mona Lisa Smile. Stevenson has been BAFTA-nominated and been the winner of a Laurence Olivier Award. In 1999, she was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, for her services to Drama.
Juliet's other audiobook narrations include Sense and Sensibility, North and South, The Portrait of a Lady and Madame Bovary. These and many more can be found at Audible.
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What listeners say about Mary Barton
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Pamela
- 11-03-20
Hard Going!
Juliet Stevenson's performance is completely engaging. She brings to life all the characters. I also love Elizabeth Gaskell but to my thinking, she is at her best with her closely observed village life such as Cranford and Wives and Daughters. I admire her work and her life. The themes explored in this novel are painful because of the terrible conditions people lived in and this loses some momentum and impact when the same note is played. Texture is missing from this story and it is melodramatic and that was the writing of the time. Think of some of Dicken's writing.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- E. Clark
- 09-03-23
Another great book of Gaskell
I love Elizabeth Gaskell’s books. The more I read, the more I like this amazing woman writer from a different era. Such a talented writer, great observations, understanding, a very good, compassionate heart. This book was also a very good one. In fact her descriptions of social events woven beautifully into a love story is amazing. So genuine. Highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lucy Bewley
- 21-02-23
Outstanding
Why have I never heard of this book before now? It’s one of the best I’ve ever read (well, listened to.) Juliet Stevenson is fantastic as the narrator and the story is gripping, opinion-forming, tender and way ahead of its time. So pleased I downloaded it - and it’s in the Plus Catalogue - bonus!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- HAM
- 03-02-23
Perfect rendition of an ageless story which resonates though the centuries
A ripping yarn from Elizabeth Gaskell brought to life by Juliet Stevenson’s faultless narration - thoroughly enjoyable
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Clavs
- 19-11-17
Very Enjoyable Social Commentary
I actually found it quite gripping. I really felt for the characters and had to find out what happened. Quite a lot of Victorian moralising but also excellent social commentary.
As always Juliet Stevenson is a dream. Well worth your time if you are a fan of social history.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- melfish
- 22-10-23
Brilliant narration
And the story was informative of the life and times without being at all dreary. I want to hear another Elizabeth Gaskell book now.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Wendy
- 16-05-24
Great story
The book introduced as is goes along. A very moving lady few chapters. The reader is great to listen to, with an amazing vocal variety.
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- Emma
- 24-07-24
another Elizabeth Gaskell to break and heal your heart
amazing narration to Gaskell classic. it brings to life Manchester in the mid 19th century better than any history book could do. weep.x
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anna
- 22-11-20
Wonderful
A truly wonderful, heart warming book brilliantly performed by Juliet Stevenson. Her rendering of the characters and their way of speaking was masterful. I spent quite a lot of my time weeping copiously, such was my involvement in the lives of these good, working people of Manchester in the 1800’s.
Highly recommended.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- DDR
- 24-12-18
Simplistic with worthy aims
There was much social injustice in the 19th century and reform was helped along by eye opening literature from the likes of Gaskell and Dickens, to them we owe a great deal.
This tale doesn't reach the heights of Dickens but has the same worthy aims. I found the story a little bit annoying, salt of the earth workers from the North who have great insight into the human condition and who aren't afraid to speak their minds except when doing so would scupper the plot....anyway worth the time - if it is the first time you are thinking of trying Gaskell I would go for North and South or Wives and Daughters.
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