Review: Mary Barton

This review of Mary Barton also appeared in John Bull. Does it seem to be an accurate summary of the novel? What does it see as the novel's objective or as its effect upon the reader? Does it perceive what we have defined as the novel's intentions, as they are laid out in the Preface? How does it read the conclusion of the novel and, in particular, John Barton's confession to Mr. Carson? Does it view this conclusion as a "success"?

The Form of Prayer

This article, from the April 22, 1848 issue of John Bull, points to a contradiction in the perceived relationship between government/law/the nation and religion. What is this contradiction, and how does it tie in to the conclusion of Mary Barton? How would readers in 1848 have understood the religious implications of the novel's conclusion, and would they have accepted the religious answer provided by the novel. How might an article like this--and those who espoused its argument--have commented on the novel's conclusion (and, in particular, the final conversation between John Barton and Mr. Carson)?

Central Criminal Court

This description of a criminal case appeared in the John Bull on March 4, 1848. What type of language does it use to describe the case? What information does it see fit to include? Does the trial in Mary Barton contain similar types of information? Why or why not? Can we hypothesize what would have been the public interest in reading accounts of this type (which were often included in weekly newspapers)?

The Manufacturing Poor

This article, which is rather long (and of which only one page is posted here), first appeared in Fraser's Magazine. What type of reader would be interested in this description of Lancashire cities? Is the representation of the poor sympathetic? Does it objectify the poor? What types of elements are emphasized in the description? Compare the language here to that in Mary Barton -- is it the same? Why or why not?