The Parson's Daughter

✍ Scribed by Cookson, Catherine

• Publisher: Summit Books
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 254 KB
• Category: Fiction
• ISBN: 1780360525

✦ Synopsis

The Victorian Sabbath was not without problems for some of those committed to its strict observance. Nancy Ann Hazel, the young and high-spirited daughter of a country parson, suffered from her fathers lengthy Sunday sermons. The autumn sunshine beckoned her into the fields and along the bank of the river that wound its way through this pleasant corner of County Durham. This area was dominated by the neighbouring estates of two very different landowners: Graham Mercer, the reclusive lord of the manor, and Dennison Harpcore of Rossburn House, where life was lived on the grand scale and reputed to be more than a little dissolute.

Two older brothers had taught Nancy Ann how to look after herself well enough, and she could hold her own with the roughest of the village children. But soon she had to muster her courage and fortitude to the full when the far greater challenges of a controversial marriage thrust her into womanhood and into a whole new world of conflict and tragedy which had to be faced and overcome.
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From Publishers Weekly

Veteran storyteller Cookson (The Bannaman Legacy, The Moth once again captures the stratified society of Northumberland in the late 19th century. When the local pastor's daughter, tomboyish Nancy Ann Howard, attracts the master of the manor, Dennison Harpcore, their unlikely, cross-class marriage sets off a chain of events that irrevocably changes the lives and social position of many in the community. Harpcore, notorious for wenching and gambling, is for a time transformed by the virginal object of his desire. Nancy Ann, for her part, once the novelty of wealth loses its charm, matures through personal adversity, loss of innocence and Harpcore's suicide. Nancy Ann's fate is tied to those of three men, the last of whom will bring her what she finally recognizes as happiness. The Cookson way with a long, intricately woven narrative compensates for sketchiness of characterization, particularly of the male characters. As usual, readers will be absorbed by her evocation of the social landscape of late 19th century England. Doubleday Book Club main selection; Literary Guild alternate.

From Library Journal

Roaming the countryside with her dog and fighting with the McLoughlin boys is not proper behavior for a Victorian country parson's daughter. Though Nancy Ann's free and passionate spirit is a frequent source of distress to her parents, it attracts Dennison Harpcore, wealthy bon vivant master of Rossburn House; quiet and kindly Graham, lord of the manor; and intense, brilliant David, bastard nephew to Dennison. It is Harpcore who courts and marries her despite the difference in age and station. Again her independence brings conflict, loyal friends, and bitter enemies as she battles to win a place in society and a position in her own household. Hasty final chapters do not fulfill the promise of the more thoroughly developed beginning ones, but this is still a book and a heroine that will charm many. Literary Guild alternate; Doubleday Book Club main selection. Cynthia Johnson Whealler, Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, Mass.

Has Cover : Yes
Number of Words in Auth: 2
Formats : EPUB
Number of Formats : 1
All Identifiers : amazon:B004TO6BBU, goodreads:670408, isbn:9780671632939
Single Author : Catherine Cookson
Original Source : New_Train_Pack_2019-084
Sorted Author by LN, FN: Cookson, Catherine
Title Length : 021
Title Parm D : The Parson's Daughter
Title Parm F : The Parson's Daughter
Num of Aut : 1
Title Parm B : (
ES Lib Name : NIRC 2019-07
Record ID : 10225
Uncomma Author : Catherine Cookson
Title Parm A : The Parson's Daughter