A celebration of Mary Barton and some of the greatest 19th century literary heroines by women writers including Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, Elizabeth Gaskell and George Elliot. With heroines like Mary Barton, Jane Eyre, Anne Elliot in Persuasion and Maggie Tulliver in The Mill on the Floss, these writers force us to question our views of 19th century women.

Why are we drawn to Mary Barton and so many others? What sets these characters apart? Do they all break the rules and challenge convention? And what were the writers of these incredible characters trying to tell us? Libby Tempest, Chair of the Gaskell Society, reveals all.

The talk will be approx 45 mins long, with time for a short question session afterwards.

‘Thoroughly enjoyed it. Interesting, amusing, well-organised.’ Visitor to previous Libby Tempest event