The Parson's Daughter

A firm favourite, this author never disappoints. I always love the way the characters are so real and jump off the page. The Parson's Daughter is no exception, and we see Nancy Ann grow from child to girl to woman and live with her through the journey she takes with love, guilt, remorse and many other human emotions.I also like that, although we are reading Nancy Ann's journey, we also see through eyes of other characters, so to give balance and more depth to the story.I never give spoilers so it's always difficult to say much, especially when it's such a good story, this time taking place in England in the late 19th century. This author has an abundance of knowledge of the status and wide gap between the rich and poor and the many supposedly civilised notions of what is right and wrong in that era. The arrogance of the rich is astounding, and very real, whereas the poor struggle the same as they do today, as people never change regardless of laws - despite the massive improvements that have been made over the years...attitudes, it could be said, never change.Overall a fantastic read that pulls the reader from beginning to end.Highly recommended.

I am an avid reader. From gothic fiction to literary classics, from Stephen king to JK Rowling. However after a case of reader's block, if there is such a thing, I had to ask a friend for advice. We have often shared books in the past, so it was her to whom I posed the question "you know what I like, can you tell me what to read next?" This was a public request on social media. She answered me privately, saying "Dont you dare tell anyone, I've been reading Catherine Cookson"So, against my better judgement I decided to give it a go. I chose this one because it seemed shortish. I've read it in the days, and I am a very busy woman, so that is going some. As soon as I've posted this review, I'm off to pick another.Don't expect genius, don't expect a work of literary marvel, expect a good, well-told, historical tale of the dreadful struggles of a good woman - a tale that you will muse over during your coffee break. That's just what you'll get.

Read them all numerous times,Catherine Cookson such imagination,such a brilliant storyteller, I’ve read and re read her books for decades and loved every single one.

This novel is as good as the rest of Catherine Cookson's novels. I started reading this novel and could not put it down. It is a really nice story of a young girl brought up in a parsonage and who is taught by her brothers to "fight and look after herself" captivates the heart of the "master" from the "big house" and he falls in love with her. The girls mother is dying and wants to see her daughter settled in marriage before she dies. Her mother more or less forces her to marry the "master" the girl does it for her mother, but falls in love with him. The story has a bit of a twist at the end but is not really surprising!

I read this book approximatly thirty years ago. Enjoyed it so much, i had to read it again.

A great read from beginning to end, good and flawed characters come Alive under Catherine cookson s imagination, the author knows how to evoke pity and warmth in her writing.

I enjoyed reading this book and was able to dip in and out of it easily. The storyline was good but I found it particularly fascinating to learn about the mindset of the upper classes with regard to the function and purpose of the lower classes. Not sure I found the ending necessary to the plot but nevertheless found it an enjoyable read.

I must be old fashioned because this tale of the Parson's Daughter held me from start to finish. The values of that late nineteenth century period have long since passed but this tale of relative poverty to marriage to the local gentry,the servants,the masters gambling and eventual suicide... was Catherine Cookson at her best. The ending was not quite believable though being the third marriage of the heroine.