Photo by Mike Hogan/BBC
According to IMDb, the BBC already adapted Elizabeth Gaskell's first novel -- way back in 1964! Made into 4 episodes, the film is believed to be lost. (How do films get lost?)
Four years ago, The Guardian announced that the BBC had plans to adapt Mary Barton, quoting Heidi Thomas (creator and writer of Call the Midwife) as saying she was eager to turn the novel into film. See the full article here.
There's certainly a lot of material in Mary Barton similar in nature to North and South:
Dirty, smokey old Milton √
Struggle between masters and workers √
Proud female protagonist who shuns the best catch of the town √
Hard-working, devoted hero who must wait for idiot woman to come around √
An impressive tally of deaths √
Problematic father √
If you thought North and South was dark and dreary, Mary Barton will take you even further into the stark lives of the working class.
Higgins and the working class in the BBC's 'North and South.'
The drama level rises several notches above North and South; with violence, tragedy, and perilous situations all vying to excite the reader's emotions.
Mary Barton definitely has the potential to make great screen drama. I hope the BBC picks up this apparently shelved project someday. I would love to watch another Gaskell story unfold on film.
Now that I've piqued your interest in the novel, I hope you'll be intrigued enough to come join me in a group read! For the next 6 weeks, I'll be hosting a group read of Mary Barton at Goodreads. Anyone is welcome to join us here.
And just to make sure you understand...
...there is no John Thornton in this story. He does not make an appearance as one of the evil mill masters.
But I hope you'll try reading Mary Barton anyway. Hints of Thornton's world abound.