The Garment

by Catherine Cookson

Motherhood is every woman's right and the natural outcome of a happy marriage. What then is the answer when a normal and beautiful young woman is country parson in the north of England, that her own marriage is a sham and wil never bring her the fulfillment she desperately needs? Grace Rouse is faced by this situation and like many other woman before her, she seeks to escape a mounting sense of frustration and despair by turning from the husband she has tried in vain to love to the comfort and release offered by another man. The final outcome, however, does not conform to pattern, and Grace is forced to wage a war between a man who can give her children and a man who passionately desires children but can only give them his name.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Romance

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Catherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, who Catherine believed was her older sister. Catherine 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 contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.

For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.

Reviews

[John Able · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading Catherine Cookson and the book didn't dissapoint.

The Garment has one of the best introductions i've ever read, a widow awaits the arrival of her children, and their partners at Christmas but their is a frenetic energy about her that just begs the question, what is the secret to her excitement that feels like she's on the verge of complete liberation after a lifetime of restraint.

The pieces are then carefully laid out depicting a marriage of resentment and mental hardship. The love of a young wife turned to bitter disappointment for reasons I certainly haven't come across before in a drama be it novel or television.

Where it failed to hold my attention was the way the story was later drawn out over years and decades, rushing through some major events and changes, alienating the reader a little from the inital engaging premise, so I did put it down for a long time before returning to finish. However the positives of the book far outweigh the negatives and I couldnt possibly score it less than 3, in fact the score is low because of the Cookson books I'm yet to read which I have no doubt will be 4s and 5s.

I have fond memories of my mum and nan watching the latest Cookson adaptation on TV and am surprised we don't hear the name more these days as her stories are every bit as good as more enduring authors like Jane Austen. Not only are they a wonderful record of how people used to live but their characters are just as relatable today as they ever were.

[Duncan Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Garment, published in 1962, is claustrophobic and shocks even now, touching on hypocrisy and ice-cruelty. It explores one woman's gut feelings under intolerable pressure. It grips.

Grace Rouse, the widow of a clergyman, is alone in her house at night, fearful. Her adult children and their spouses arrive, thinking only of themselves. One fiancé is introduced to Grace and unwittingly exposes a secret.

We return to the start of Grace's marriage in 1939. She loves her husband Donald and disregards her aunt's warnings.

Then, Grace struggling to maintain a façade and Donald smiling and saying nothing, he behaves in such a way in private that her love curdles. The reason is not explained.

Grace can confide in no-one (save, eventually, her aunt). Donald's uncle, the bishop, visits. Something appalling happens.

Despairing, Grace turns to another man...

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK so this isn't her greatest writing or even her best story. The characters are a bit two dimensional for me. Still I needed something light to read at the time and this fit the bill nicely.

[Mookie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why are all of Catherine Cookson's "children" always abhorrent, disapproving trolls? Every time her characters has a kid, the kid grows up to be a jag. I love Cookson books but it's the most distasteful quality. This book is pretty low-tier in terms of Cookson quality. I don't believe that any woman would suffer that man for years, even in the period that it was written. However, I'm tempted to keep it because the romance is so damn sweet.

[Bindu Babu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must have read this book long back when I was in High School. I remember my brother had commented this is not a suitable book for my age. But the book was very interesting to read and I still remember the story! I had forgot the name of author and happy to find this book on goodreads. Would love to read this again and see how I will feel revisiting the book after almost 3 decades.

[Herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoals steeds mijn auteur voor onder de road vlot leuk geschreven en gemakkelijk weg te leggen en te onderbreken.
Mooi verhaal zoals steeds.

[Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is amazing book

[Becky Villareal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful example of a historic novel!

I always enjoy Catherine Cookson and I particularly enjoyed this one. I would highly recommend for a great read and a major escape!

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marital dynamics, motherhood, personal happiness and infidelity are all explored in this novel.

Synopsis:
Motherhood is every woman’s right and the natural outcome of a happy marriage. But what then when a normal and beautiful young woman is forced to recognise, after two years as the wife of a country parson in the north of England, that her marriage is a sham and will never bring her the fulfilment she desperately needs?

Grace Rouse is faced with this situation and, like many other women before her, she seeks to escape a mounting sense of frustration and despair by turning from the husband she has tried in vain to love to the comfort and release offered by another man.

The final outcome presents a huge dilemma as Grace is forced to wage a war between a man who can give her children and love and a man who passionately desires children but can only give them his name.

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of her early books - good but not as good as her later ones.

Back Cover Blurb:
Grace Rouse tried in vain to love her husband but found she could not. Looking for love elsewhere, she found herself torn between a man who could give her children and a man who passionately desired children but could only give them his name.

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all of Catherine Cookson's books some years ago and enjoyed them immensley. I recently re-read all of them and find that on a second look I found them all so very predictable, and was rather disappointed. However I'm sure that it is my tastes that have changed not the calibre of her story telling.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well-writen but not too exciting book about the pastor´s wife who takes a lover. According to blurb "Motherhood is... the natural outcome of a happy marriage." So without children marriage is unnatural and unhappy? Yes, Grace WANTS sex and a child, and her husband is both arrogant and impotent, but does this excuses adultery?

[Janet Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read all hers back in the day. Need to read this one again after reading the reviews. I can't stand adulterers so my feelings might have changed in regard to the story. I read it at least twice back in the day, you'd think I'd remember something. I was a voracious reader though, you can only retain so much.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't stand the heroine. She is weak, scared of everything, and ridiculous. It is not Cookson's usual style of heroine at all.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts of the book were a bit long winded but the story got through eventually

[Alison Chastain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed very much as I do all of Catherine Cookson books