I could not put down this book, racing through it in two days. Catherine Cookson's writing is immersive and brings the period and characters to life. This is the first book of hers that I have read and I am impressed. The McQueens were as blunt as they were big-hearted until Bridget McQueen came home one day with her new husband. She had married a negro sailor and bore him a daughter, Rose-Angela. This child grows into a beautiful young girl, but can never escape the feeling of suspicion and hatred that are the heritage of her mixed blood. Her father, a man of fine character who desires only to live decently and at peace with his fellow men, is driven away from his wife and child by the insane jealousy of Bridget’s brother Matt.

He loved the life, and the sunshine, and he had British friends, Ralph Brown and Jenny Jules, nearby in the hillside neighbourhood of Los Feliz. He and Suzan acquired US citizenship. Putting his RSC experience to good use, he taught Shakespeare at CalArts (California Institute of the Arts) and created a small multimedia company in London with corporate clients. He taught himself computer animation and CGI. He voiced Xalek in the Star Wars video games. His final role was in the re-booted television series of Hawaii Five-O in 2020. Good book by this great author - it is such a shame she died and we can no longer look forward to any more books. Catherine Cookson passed away just nine days short of her 92nd birthday at her home on June 11, 1998. The mother is then left to be sort of romanced by her adopted brother - but this isn't expanded on in any form and they neither get married nor live together. The language is common english at parts but you get used to it and it lends to the period and characters.Cookson was famous for her generosity and she gave away hundreds of thousands of pounds to charities, especially those devoted to the care of children. Starting with the Fifteen Streets in 1989 and ending with A Dinner of Herbs in 2001, there were 18 mini series.

The Abortion Act was passed in 1967 and was obviously of interest to Catherine Cookson, a pioneer of women's issues. Another indicator of the year: Max Bygraves 'Tulips From Amsterdam' 78 rpm was #3 in 1958, With the struggles between the classes- 16 year old Van gets pregnant, the father is Arthur Breat however Angus Cotton is blamed by her parents. Born in Birmingham, he was the second youngest of six children of Amos Armatrading, a carpenter, who had emigrated in the 50s from St Kitts with his wife, Beryl (nee Benjamin), from Antigua, a cousin of the Lib Dem peer and entertainer Floella Benjamin, first going to Cornwall, before settling in Birmingham. The period is described in vivid detail. I found this book educational and it helped me picture the Tyneside at that time. The dialogue feels authentic. A considerable portion of Catherine Cookson’s books have been adapted into films, radio and stage plays. Jacqueline (1956), which was directed by Roy Ward Baker, was the first film to be produced from her work, based off of ‘A Grand Man’.The central passage of his career were the three seasons (1986-89) he spent with the RSC. He was a noble, steadfast Banquo to Miles Anderson’s feverish Macbeth, directed by Adrian Noble, and played Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet, directed by Terry Hands, and Orsino in Twelfth Night, on regional tours. This award-winning production, about a woman forced to live her life without love starred the brilliant Janet McTeer of The White Queen and Honourable Women fame as the honour-bound Riah Millican.

This was one heavy story. Racism is never an easy topic. In this book it's explored well at 1900s standard, mind you. As usual Catherine shows all characters views, consequences of those views, fears and happiness(?). I would like to believe that there was happy moments in this book, but mainly only a heavy topic. It's hard for me to rate the book. The characters are very interesting and likeable. The historical elements are compelling, and John and Mary are perfect as leads in this, one of Catherine Cookson’s most renowned novels. Before Silent Witness, Emilia Fox starred in this 1950s drama about a teenager at odds with her socially-climbing family.Well, Vanessa's dad is furious. His daughter in pregnant and married to a "common" man. Angus's mom is furious. She is worked off her feet and now she has to take care of Vanessa too. Angus's sister is furious for reasons of her own. Everybody is furious! It's only a matter of time before the you know what hits the fan! I wasn't convinced of either of them and felt it was a bit forced. There's no reason for either of them to love her, beyond that she is beautiful. While one went on to become one half of a much-loved TV duo and the other looked to Hollywood for megastar-status, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Declan Donnelly appeared together in historic drama, The Cinder Path, as feisty Victoria Chapman and erm, Stable Boy, respectively.

This is the first grown-up novel I read. My mother gave it to me when I asked her for a good book as a teen and this is the book that got me hooked to reading. Ever few years I sit down and read it again and marvel at Mrs. Cookson's talent at weaving an exceptional plot with nail-biting cliffhangers at the end of every chapter and wish I had such talent! It took Catherine a decade to recover from the mental breakdown she suffered following her miscarriages. I read the book many years ago and although a fan of Catherine Cookson, the screen adaptations are usually a bit twee (except for The Round Tower and this one).

Britain’s best selling author was made a Dame in the 1993 New Year Honours List. She was already an OBE. The second half of the book explores the experience of Bridget's daughter Rosie and how her mixed racial heritage impacts upon her life. Tony was educated at the Central grammar for boys, whose alumni include Tony Garnett, the BBC Play for Today producer, and the actors Nicol Williamson and, contemporary with Tony, Kevin McNally. He was popularly known as “Ant” until he grew much bigger and became “Fly” (a larger insect than an ant). He excelled at rugby and, outside school, ice-skating and drama classes, and was a lifelong supporter of Birmingham City FC. She began writing to help comes to terms with her illness and turned out scores of novels. Her first effort, Kate Hannigan, was published when she was 44 - and she would write nearly 80 more books which have been translated into 17 languages with worldwide sales totalling more than 100 million. The McQueens were nothing like I was expecting. They were a horrible family. I liked Cavan and their adopted son Tony, but Kathie was detestable and Matt was evil incarnate. He was an interesting villain, and believably scary. However, I wish there was more explanation into his obsession with Bridget. I thought Bridget was a complex character and enjoyed reading about her. However I was hoping for a real love story between her and James.