Product Description
HERITAGE OF FOLLY: The Batleys and the Cadwells owned neighbouring farms on the beautiful, wild Northumbrian coast. But there all similarity ended, and enmity began. For between the two families raged a violent and bitter feud — a feud so powerful that the very name of Cadwell made Ralph Batley seethe with uncontrollable fury. Into this stormy
atmosphere came Linda Metcalfe, a young student, who innocently became involved in the tension between the two households on the day of her arrival…

THE FEN TIGER: Deep in the wild fen country, Rosamund Morley lived a cloistered, poverty-stricken existence with her sister Jennifer and her alcoholic father. It was she who ran for help the night her father set his bed alight after a drinking bout. And while fleeing through the woods, she met Michael Bradshaw, the man she christened the Fen Tiger. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great read
I enjoyed both of these stories. Catherine Cookson is a very good writer of stories.Some of her stories though are too sad for me to read but I made it through these. ... Read more

Product Description
Three historical novels by Catherine Cookson, starting in 1851, and following the stormy lives of the Northumbrian Mallen family through four generations, from the grandeur of Victorian England to the dark days of the World War I. ... Read more

Product Description
An account of Catherine Cookson's harsh upbringing in the industrial North East, and the effect that its poverty, exploitation and bigotry had on her life and her writing. The book is a tribute by Cookson to the land of her birth, which provided the inspiration for all her novels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Cookson's My Land of the North
I have just read and forwarded on to my sister both of Cookson's books, this one and Catherine Cookson Country.I loved reading it and having my memory jogged with excerpts from her novels.Now, I just wish I could live long enough to visit this area of England. ... Read more

Product Description
Through first-hand interviews with the popular author and a close study of her work, this thoroughly absorbing biography reveals who Catherine Cookson really was.

Catherine Cookson was a very private woman, but she left many clues to her life, opinions and personality in her fiction. Piers Dudgeon knew her well. He has previously written two books about her life, prompting Catherine to write: “You know me too well, sir!” In his new biography, he combines the hours of first-hand interviews with the author with a thorough grasp and understanding of her novels, to produce a revealing portrait of one of Britain’s best-loved writers, and how her life and her work were inseparably entwined.

Catherine Cookson drew heavily on her own life in her novels. Not only in Tyneside, where many of her stories are set and where she grew up, but also in the other events and locations of her life. Her novels mirror her repressions, chart her emotional growth and, Piers Dudgeon argues, her sexuality. He explores what he calls, Catherine’s seven faces, or facets, of her complex personality, facets which change through the course of her life. Each is reflected in one of Catherine’s most abiding literary creations from Annie Hannigan, the “poor orphan in the storm” in the Kate Hannigan series of novels, to Biddy Millican, heroine and pretentious self-improver of The Black Velvet Gown.

Although his subject was a private person, Piers Dudgeon has succeeded in producing an intimate and revealing portrait of Catherine Cookson that all of her fans will love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Loose Ends
The book tied up some loose ends; but not a lot of news.Certainly helped to understand the dark thread that runs through all of Catherine Cookson's books.In any event, she was one of my all time favorite authors. ... Read more

Product Description
Master of romantic fiction Catherine Cookson is world renowned for her enthralling tales of love triumphing over impossible odds. In her very first novel, Dame Catherine introduces us to the enduring story of her most charismatic heroine. In this timeless tribute to romantic love, England's late, great, bestselling author has spun the unforgettable tale of a wealthy man caught in a loveless marriage, a young woman trapped in the slums, and their defiance of the mores of Edwardian society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

More of Mary Ann's Mishaps
This is the fourth and in my personal opinion, best one so far of the Mary Ann series.Perhaps its improvement in my eyes is due to the fact that the story is no longer about an eight year old, but twelve going on thirteen... or thirty if you go by the heroine's evergrowing maturity.In this segment in the life of the fiesty Mary Ann, so many things are happening.There is never a dull moment.A situation with a very agressive bull and yet another gal that Mary Ann cannot get along with, Lorna, leads to a lot of excitement that could very well end in court.Mary Ann's brother is making eyes at her longtime enemy, Sarah Flannegan.Mary's Ann's mother's former beau is getting a divorce from his present wife and of course, Mary Ann has to meddle in that cause she cannot have him making trouble in her ma and da's marriage again.Her dad's boss, Mr. Lord, reveals some shocking intentions regarding Mary Ann's and his grandson, Tony's, futures.These revelations may cause Tony to leave the farm, resulting in the loss of a good friend for Mary Ann.And in the middle of all this ruckus, (in between prayers for her granny's death), Mary Ann is having a "pre teen" romance with a trumpet player whose clothes are way too small for him.

What makes this one even better is you know without a doubt that the err... S(edited) will hit the fan at Mary Ann's thirteenth birthday party.Terrific drum roll like sequence of events.I am looking forward to more of this older Mary Ann.

Mary Ann series
After reading the first catherine cookson book and my first Mary Ann story, I purchased all books related to this fascinating little girl and her family.

I read many of the Mary Ann books over and over again and would recommend all of the Mary Ann books.

Storyline ....
From the cover: "Mary Ann may have grown up, but she hasn't changed. As irrepressible as ever, she's still doing what she does best: interfering in other peoples' lives. She's never one to resist a bit of matchmaking herself, but heaven help anyone who tries her at her own game. Though she may not yet know much about love, Mary Ann knows who's stolen her heart." Part of the series of "Mary Ann" books written by Catherine Cookson. ... Read more

Product Description
Mary Ann is now engaged to be married and the wedding is to take place in a few week's time. But Mary Ann still manages to become involved in the knotty problems of those dear to her and sets out to solve them in her own inimitable manner. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Man's Midlife Crisis
This is the sixth novel in the Mary Ann series.Obviously, Mary Ann gets married, but do not be fooled into thinking this book is about HER marriage.As Mary Ann and Corny do not tie the knot till the very end, it is about Mary Ann's parents and their marital troubles.Mary Ann's da, Mike is going thru a midlife crisis.He is on the verge of having an affair as well as hitting the bottle and it is once again Mary Ann to the rescue.Can she succeed this time tho?

I enjoy these Mary Ann books, but quite frankly I am ready for her da to die.I am tired of him and his drinking and his problems and the way Mary Ann always defends him.Thus, four stars instead of five.

I did, however, get a good laugh or two as usual with a Mary Ann book.

Mary Ann Shaughnessy finally leaves her Da to wed Corny
In this volume Mary Ann must deal with her beloved father's
attraction to a young, conniving woman named Yvonne, who,
along with her conspiring mother, plot to woo Mike away from
Lizzie and the family.

Mike, flattered by the attention, ignores pleas to show the
two women the door, and continues the dangerous association,
forcing a wedge between himself and his loving daughter.

Against the backdrop of their Michael's wedding to Sarah
Flanagan, Mary Ann once again must find a way to bring Mike
back to his senses and into the family's loving fold.

It's good to see Mary Ann's fiery spirit still intact; the convent school may have smoothed out some of her rough edges but
nothing will ever change her true character, and her fierce
loyalties to her family and her benefactor Mr. Lord.Once more
she displays the courage to act on her own instinct, which never
steers her wrong in the end.

I enjoyed seeing young Michael and Sarah's love changing them
both for the better. I sympathized with poor dear Lizzies' problems with one-of-a-kind Mike Shaughnessy.I worried along
with Mary Ann as she gets cold feet before her marriage to Corny, will she really be able to live away from her beloved
home, her family, and be known from now on as Mary Ann Boyle?

Let's not forget the irrepressible character of hearty, poverty-stricken Fanny McBride. Read the novel of the same name for more of this tough, delightful old woman.

I was once again taken across the water to North Country England
listening to Susan Jameson's excellent reading of this terrific
book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not Worth Reading!
As much as I love Catherine Cookson's works, Rosie of the River was probably the worst one of the 80 or so I've read.The setting is too modern.The characters are poorly developed.Some of the scenes didn't make any sense.If I didn't know better I would swear that she didn't even write this book!Actually, she may not have written the completed work, as it was published after her death.Of all of her books, this one just isn't a good read! ... Read more

Product Description
Maisie could never be quite Sure when she met up with Hamilton; most likely, it was when she started talking to herself as an often lonely seven-year-old. Hamilton, an imaginary horse, had to remain a secret for many years, for what Would people think of Maisie if she revealed that the only friend she had was a horse who acted as her guide, philosopher and confidant

Life was difficult enough for Maisie without that, and increasingly so as she grew to womanhood and became a wife. But if she could not talk about Hamilton, she could at least write about him. And write she did, with results that would broaden her horizons far beyond her native Tyneside.

Collected together in one volume for the first time, the three Hamilton novels tell a story in which Catherine Cookson blends humour and pathos to irresistible effect. ... Read more

Product Description
When John O'Brien fell in love with Mary Llewellyn he knew there was a gulf between them that nothing could bridge - the gulf of the "Fifteen Streets". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Religion Wars
I have read a good twenty Cookson books at this point and all except one have warranted at least three stars till now.I had a hard time with this one.The subject matter did not really interest me as much as Cookson's usual choices.Besides being about a very poor, struggling family on Fifteen Streets, it focuses on the late 1800s/ early 1900s religious tensions between Catholics and Pentecostals.

It has the usual dramatic twists that Cookson is famed for, but in this case they were predictable.There is the "upstart" struggling to better himself, good sibling versus bad, and a woman attempting to saddle a poor fellow with a bairn that isn't his.

Unlike most Cookson stories, I never felt any rapport or kinship with any of the characters,However, in the end, one can read a bit of a moral in the story.Be careful what you wish for.It can often come true, but with strings attached.

Amazing
Catherine Cookson was an amazing author. Highly recommend her books. The seller was FANTASTIC.The best service, book in new condition. The highest Recommendation for the seller.

Excellent Historical Romance!!!
This is the first book I've read of Catherine Cookson and what a great book I found. Cookson's writing flows efortlessly, letting you enjoy the story more. John a son to a poor family living in the fifteen streets falls in love with his sister's schoolteacher, a wealthy beautiful woman. John is torn between his love for her and knowing the huge gap between their classes. A wonderful story filled with love, sorrow, and a good wholesome ending. A superbly written novel that everyone will enjoy.

Excellent Historical Romance!!!
This is the first book I've read of Catherine Cookson and what a great book I found. Cookson's writing flows efortlessly, letting you enjoy the story more. John a son to a poor family living in the fifteen streets falls in love with his sister's schoolteacher, a wealthy beautiful woman. John is torn between his love for her and knowing the huge gap between their classes. A wonderful story filled with love, sorrow, that has a great ending. A superbly written novel that everyone will enjoy.

strong historical relationship drama
THE FIFTEEN STREETS are slums filled with abject poverty that usually leads to its residents giving up on the future as the hard work destroys the dreams and hopes for something better if not for themselves at least for their offsprings.A drunk sired John O'Brien, yet the lad once believed that hard work was the avenue out.However, his toil on the docks has left him with deep doubts and the realization that the odds are he will end up just like his dad.

Upon meets his younger sister's teacher Mary Llewellyn, John renews his belief he will make something of himself because now he has the impetus to become a better person.Mary comes from a higher class than John yet prefers working with the children of the FIFTEEN STREETS in the belief that education is the ticket out of destitution.As John and Mary fall in love, the pressure increases to end this forbidden relationship that binds two people from opposite sides of the tracks.

Although the class differences blocking a relationship seem antiquated, this reprint of a classic Catherine Cookson book stands the test of time due to the ageless themes that survival and intelligence is inadequate without love, passion, and hope.The descriptions of the FIFTEEN STREETS neighborhood are sadly realistically horrifying then and now yet brilliantly interwoven into a powerful plot.Fans will admire Mary and root for John to overcome the impossible, which is why the deceased Ms. Cookson remains a favorite.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Slow Starter
I had to read the first few chapters before Riley really became interesting.Hang in there and 4/5 of the book is great.It just gets off to a slow start. ... Read more