Good insight into humans and their humanity. Easy read

Much like a Shakespearian tragedy, this story tells of the troubled lives of the working-class in an industrial town in England from 1837-1842. I did not enjoy this book as much as North and South by Ms. Gaskell but the characters were interesting and it provided a look at the time through the eyes of the author. Being as much a social commentary as a novel, the book was descriptive and entertaining enough to keep my interest but lacked the levity and depth for me to wish to read it again. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy Jane Austen or Elizabeth Gaskell's works.

Well, to me, the chain of events in Mary Barton seems a bit too optimistic and way in favor of Mary, the heroine! Elizabeth Gaskell has exaggerated the impact of religion in my opinion, putting much effort in favor of Christianity. Also, the cruelty of the upper class of those days has not been shown as it really were.