A House Divided: A Novel - Hardcover

Cookson, Catherine

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0684871211 ISBN 13: 9780684871219

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2000

Synopsis

A new edition of a classic historical romance set in postwar England follows wealthy Michael Wallengham, blinded in the war, who falls in love with Elizabeth Duckwarth, his caretaker, against the wishes of his family.

About this title

Reviews

Cookson may have died in 1998, but readers are not yet compelled to bid her a final good-bye. If this posthumous offering, with its repetitive plotting and murky prose, is not up to the writer's usual standards, loyal fans will likely forgive its lapses. Matthew Wallingham is a WWII hero recovering from a war injury that has left him blind. While hospitalized, he falls instantly in love with his nurse, Elizabeth Jane "Ducky" Ducksworth. Despite the potential emotional pitfalls, Elizabeth eventually agrees to become Matthew's wife. First, however, she has relationships of her own to settle, while Matthew must make a life for himself at home with his family. The upper-crust Wallinghams are a formidable bunch: Matthew's spirited grandmother; his flustered but loving mother; his father, disabled with multiple sclerosis; and Rodney, his perennially underappreciated and resentful younger brother. Jim and Peter, two loyal servants, are practically part of the family. The Wallinghams are fond of frequent tea-time conversations, during which they lengthily rehash the novel's action. Subjects of discussion include Matthew's new career as a physiotherapist and Rodney's hostility. Meanwhile, Elizabeth breaks off her engagement to coarse Mike McCabe, son of a family friend. Unable to bear this loss, McCabe becomes violent, attempting first to rape Elizabeth and then to kill her. As soon as he is neatly dispatched, Rodney emerges as the new threat to the couple's happiness. Finally, though, fate conspires to provide a happy ending, and all is as it should be in Cookson's domain. (Feb.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The last Tyneside romance by Dame Catherine Cookson (190698). In her final melodrama, Cookson seems to make peace with the class conflict that was the engine of most of her stories. Its after WWII, and her officers and enlisted joes are evolving into one happy meritocracy, though not without trouble along with way. Upmarket Capt. Matthew Wallingham, 29, is blinded in Italy, after four tough years of service and having earned the respect and loyalty of his men. In the hospital hes helped through a crisis by Liz (Ducks) Ducksworth, a nurse he believes is a motherly 49. Actually Liz, a farmers daughter, is 24, and the two are reunited when Matthew begins a course in physiotherapy at the same hospital where Liz has taken a job. Matthew lives at the Beavors, near Newcastle, with his extended family: his father, a military man who has late in life developed multiple sclerosis; Peter, another of Cooksons aristocratic servants whose intelligence and character gain them the status of friend; Matthews sad mother, who has a deeply affectionate if unconsummated relationship with Peter; Matthews jealous brother, Rodney, whom no one likes very much; and their lovable, crotchety grandmother, Granan, whose powers have not been diminished with age. Add to the mix Jim, the lower-class man who becomes Matthews driver, friend, and helpmeet, and a houseful of jolly and well-adjusted family retainers, all of whom assist Matthew and Liz in sorting out their situation and fending off their enemies. Liz is assaulted by an old flame, and hateful Rodney tries to murder his brother. But the family ties the couple have forgedeven the one with Flossie the dogrescue them both. And since this is a romance, Matthew is hit on the head and regains his sight. Damned silly thing for me to bring up, class, says Granan. Despite the sacharrine quality of this farewell, that was the least silly thing Cookson did. -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

One of the ten novels Cookson (The Desert Crop) left for posthumous publication, A House Divided relates a World War II-era romance between a wounded soldier named Matthew and his nurse, Liz. Working-class Liz escaped from her disapproving mother and an unwanted fianc to nursing school and soon began caring for the battle-battered. As she nurses Matthew back to health and teaches him to accept and live with his blindness, the two fall in love. But when lovelorn Liz tries to break up with her boyfriend, Mike, she finds only trouble. Mike attacks her, and her mother blames her for disgracing the family. Violence plays a role, but there's no overt sex in this book. Cookson's fans will not be disappointed, as she has included all the elements they expect: suspense, a historical setting, and, of course, a love that overcomes all obstacles. For all public libraries.
---Andrea Lee Shuey, Dallas P.L.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0684871211
• ISBN 13: 9780684871219
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 368