Catherine Cookson: The House of Women

I've read three of Catherine Cookson's books recently and all of them have involved incest or pedophilia or both. Based on this sample, you have to ask yourself the question, was this the case in all of Cookson's books? I do not remember.

Many generations of women live under the same roof in The House of Women. Life in the house changes when the youngest of the family, 16-year-old Peggy, becomes pregnant and is forced to marry the father of her child.

Reading the book also raises the question of how old you have to be to get married in England. Because of course a 15-year-old girl is saved from her father's incest and pedophilia by marrying a man more than ten years older than her. It is supposed to be true love, and at first sight.

 

Catherine Cookson: The Black Velvet Gown

Can you lie on the back cover of a book? This inevitably comes to mind when reading the hardcover edition of Catherine Cookson's book The Black Velvet Gown from 1994. The back cover claims that the lord of the manor takes an interest in the main character, but that is not the case. The master has someone else in mind.

Riah Millican finds herself in real trouble with her flock of children when her husband unexpectedly dies. She have to leave her home and find work somewhere. Fortunately, they find a person stupid enough to take them under their roof. The new employer shows interest in Riah's children, and starts teaching them. But the greatest sin of a worker is knowing how to read!

And then a terrible tragedy happens...