What's On

Online Course: A Man’s World – Fathers – John Barton from Elizabeth Gaskell’s Mary Barton

What do Victorian novelists have to say about men as fathers, lovers, activists, wealth creators and kings?

In this new course led by Dr Sherry Ashworth, we will be looking at Elizabeth Gaskell’s John Barton in Mary Barton (father), John Thornton in North and South together with Mr Rochester from Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre (lovers), George Eliot’s Felix Holt in Felix Holt, the Radical (activist and lover), Jabez Clegg in Isabella Banks’ A Manchester Man (wealth creator) and finally the heroes of Rudyard Kipling’s novella, The Man who would be King empire builders!

How easy is it to be a man in a man’s world?
What are you waiting for? Come and join us!

This month’s session will focus on John Barton from Elizabeth Gaskell’s Mary Barton.

The course is suitable for the general reader who wants to delve deeper into 19th century writing. Extracts will be provided in advance to focus your reading. Sessions will take place on zoom and numbers are limited to allow an inclusive discussion with the chance for all to take part. Please note these sessions will not be recorded as we do not have permissions from attendees.

Every second Wed* of the month January – May 2025, 7-9pm

*The February session will be on the first Wednesday of the month to avoid our online Valentine’s Day talk, but the rest of the sessions will remain on the second Wednesday of the month.

Wednesday 8 January – Fathers – John Barton from Elizabeth Gaskell’s Mary Barton

Wednesday 5 February Lovers – John Thornton from Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South and Mr Rochester from Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre.

Wednesday 12 March – Activists – Felix Holt from George Eliot’s Felix Holt, the Radical

Wednesday 9 April – Wealth Creators – Jabez Clegg from Isabella Banks’ The Manchester Man

 Wednesday 14 May – Rulers – Rudyard Kipling’s novella, The Man who would be King

£13 per session

“Learned so much about 19th century novels I was not familiar with. Sherry is extremely knowledgeable, friendly and engages with all the participants. Very inclusive.” Visitor to online events

**Refer to your e-ticket for joining instructions and links. Please check your spam/junk mail for ticket.**

If you have any questions about this event, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is run by Manchester Historic Buildings Trust (charity no. 1080606) and all money gained through private tours, talks, room hire and ticket sales goes towards the ongoing maintenance and running costs of the House. If you would like to support the House with an additional donation you can do so via this link.

8th Jan 2025

7pm - 9pm

Workshops

The guides brought the home alive. It was inspiring to hear about this woman and extraordinary family

Visitor to the House in 2021