What is the author's style in Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell?

Situated in Manchester, England during the 1849s, Mary Barton portrays the hardships of the poor working class in contrast of the opulently wealthy factory owners while recounting the compelling drama of Mary’s life. In the midst of the love of two men, industrious engineer Jem Wilson and wealthy son of factory owner Henry Carson, Mary must decide between the men and prove the innocence of the man she loves when he is accused of murdering her other suitor.