ABSTRACT
Althoughtheworkisthereasonweareinterestedintheartist,our curiosityisrarelysatisfiedbyknowinghimthroughtheworkalone. Ourcuriosityisnatural;thepersonalityoftheartistmayprovide illuminationorasenseofthestruggleofthehumanspiritinthe processofcreation.Gaskellknewthatcuriosity,thoughherreaders' interestinheridentityshedismissedasmereidleness.Inanotetoher publisher,Chapman,intheDecemberafterMaryBarton'sappearance,shecommentedwithasperityonattemptstoprobeher anonymity:
thewholeaffairofpublicationhasbeenoneofextreme annoyancetome,fromtheimpertinentandunjustifiable curiosityofpeople,whohavetriedtoforcemeeitherintoan absolutedenial,oranacknowledgementofwhattheymust haveseenthewriterwishedtokeepconcealed(64).
