Product Description

At the end of the Second World War, Matthew Wallingham returns to his family home, blinded by his injuries and uncertain about his future. There he finds his father ill, his mother obviously unhappy, and his brother, who has made a success of running the farm on the family's estate during the war years, resentful that Matthew should think he can now offer help. Forced to realize that his plans for the future are not going to work, Matthew starts to look for a new career. He finds himself becoming dependent on Liz - his nurse and, increasingly, the focus of all his thoughts and hopes. But Liz herself has a shadow hanging over her that will bring a terrifying violence into the Wallingham's family life...Set in the aftermath of the Second World War, "A House Divided" encompasses the social change taking place and the pains and pleasures of the brave new world of peace.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67196 in Books
• Published on: 2000-10-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Review
Humour, toughness, resolution and generosity are Cookson virtues...In the specialised world of women's popular fiction, Cookson has created her own territory The Times

From the Back Cover
Invalided out of the army at the end of the Second World War, Matthew Wallingham can't even look forward to his new future. As he lies in a hospital bed, he wonders what place there is in a new social order for a blind man - even if he is a decorated war hero. He has the sympathy of his family and his friends, but it seems that the only person who is able to help him in his depression is his nurse, Liz.

Outside, Britain is adjusting to the realties of austerity; the price of peace is plain to see in the shortages of daily life and the shabby bomb-damaged cities. It is to this world that millions of ex-service people are returning to families, homes and unfamiliar jobs in civvy street. Matthew is one of them.

When he arrives home, he realises that his family have their problems too. His father is ill, and his mother is obviously unhappy, while his younger brother, who has made a success of running the farm on the family's estate in the war years, is resentful that Matthew should think he can help him. The only person Matthew feels he can talk to is his grandmother, and apparently she is regarded as a holy terror by the rest of the family.

It soon dawns on Matthew that what few plans he has are not going to work, and he starts to look for a new career, and for Liz, for increasingly she seems to have become the focus of all his thoughts and his hopes for the future. But Liz herself has a shadow hanging over her that will bring a terrifying violence into the Wallingham family's life...

In a career that extended over more than forty-five years, Catherine Cookson, Britain's best-loved writer, has described a world she experienced at first hand herself - the social changes, the pains as well as the pleasures of the brave new world of peace.

About the Author
Catherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, whom she believed to be her older sister. She began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master. Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular of contemporary women novelists. After receiving an OBE in 1985, Catherine Cookson was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993. She was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997. For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne. She died shortly before her ninety-second birthday, in June 1998.

Customer Reviews

A relaxing read with well developed, captivating characters.
A house divided is an engrossing and captivating book. The characters are well developed leading the reader through a story line that is interesting but not too busy.

This is very much a "feel good" book its easy to read and although the story line can be a bit predictable the enjoyment of the book isn't affected by this. By far the best things about this book are the characters. You can't help but giggle at the antics of the eccentric Grandmother and shed a tear for the sweet but unlucky nurse.

As I have only read a few of Catherine Cooksons books (and them being the Tilly Trotter books a few years back) I can't really comment on whether this is a characteristic book. I can say however that I very much enjoyed this book as it stands on its own and can see why it is a best seller. In my opinion this book will appeal to and be enjoyed by a wide range of ages and walks of life.

This is a book that you can guarantee will cheer you up after a hard day or help you through a long and boring one. Perfect with a cup of coffee and an unhealthy amount of chocolate.

Synopsis
Set at the end of World War II, a young man, blinded in action and a decorated war hero, returns home and strives to put his life back in order the best way he can.

this could have been a classic
World War II may be over, but for many of the soldiers the battle has just begun. Captain Matthew Wellingham struggles with being blind, having much of his skin destroyed, and a rage bordering on insanity. Only the gentle caring of Nurse Elizabeth Ducksworth pulls him through his period of lunacy.

After being discharged from the hospital, Matt meets Liz and knows he is in love with her. Liz goes home to end her engagement to a big bully who tries to rape her. Only her brother stops him from succeeding. Liz and Matt see each other and confess their love for one another. Though his parents and gran adore her, the path to happiness is wrought with troubles caused by other males demanding that Liz be theirs despite her own desire for Matt.


The concept of a nurse falling in love with her patient suffering from several combat related injuries including blindness seems very interesting on the surface. Additionally, the legendary Catherine Cookson affectionately and vividly describes 1946 England. However, much of the conflict in the plot of A HOUSE DIVIDED comes from external sources, making the story line appear contrived rather than free flowing. No internal conflict between the lead couple exists in this tale, leading to the belief that this could have been a classic, but ultimately falls a bit short.