Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel, Mary Barton, is this week's Woman's Hour drama.
Set in 1840s Manchester, it's a damning indictment of industrialisation in the mill-towns of the north, and caused outrage on its publication in 1848.
It's the story of John Barton and his beautiful, but naive, daughter Mary forced to choose between the son of a rich industrialist and her working-class lover.
Jenni discusses it's significance with Jenny Uglow, biographer of Mrs Gaskell, and Lavinia Murray, who dramatised the book for Radio 4.
Elizabeth Gaskell by Jenny Uglow (Faber & Faber, ISBN: 0571203590, £7.99.
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