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The Tilly Trotter Trilogy #1
Tilly Trotter
Tilly Trotter isn't like the other girls in the villages of County Durham. Tall and coltish, she's not afraid of taking on 'man's work' to help out the grandparents who raised her. There's an unusual beauty to her too - a beauty that's envied by the local women and lusted after by the men.
But for all the attention Tilly only loves one man, farmer Simon Bentwood, and she's heartbroken to discover that he's betrothed to another. But there are even harder times ahead for Tilly. A spurned suitor takes a terrible revenge. Idle gossip brands her a witch. A betrayal forces her into the cruel drudgery of the local mine and puts her life in danger.
But Tilly refuses to let her spirit be broken - determined that all this will serve only to make her stronger...
But for all the attention Tilly only loves one man, farmer Simon Bentwood, and she's heartbroken to discover that he's betrothed to another. But there are even harder times ahead for Tilly. A spurned suitor takes a terrible revenge. Idle gossip brands her a witch. A betrayal forces her into the cruel drudgery of the local mine and puts her life in danger.
But Tilly refuses to let her spirit be broken - determined that all this will serve only to make her stronger...
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
95 people are currently reading
1100 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cookson
508 books688 followersCatherine 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 17, 2009
Wow! I can certainly see why this became a mini series. I have just completed the first novel in the Tilly Trotter series and I am hooked. This novel takes readers back to the early days of Queen Victoria's reign, when beyond the glittery scenery of court, miners and farmers ran the land. Tilly Trotter is a young girl that has been raised by her grandparents. Due to a long ago scandal involving some missing money, that had nothing to do with her, some beligerent town folk brand Tilly a witch. When her dear grandparents finally leave this world due to old age, Tilly must make it on her own, despite the hatred of the townfolk and the danger that awaits her at every turn. A kind land and mine owner, Mark Sopwith, hires her to attend his children. Due to a bad judgement call on his part, Tilly is once again on the streets. Not for long tho! Tilly then takes up with a family called the Drews and enters the dark and dangerous world on mining. A twist of fate in the dark caverns of the mine throw Tilly and Mark together again.
The back of the book says Tilly becomes the loving mistress of a wealthy man. This gives the wrong impression as Tilly is not a prostitute of any sort, but more of a nurse and caregiver. So do not be put off by the use of the word "mistress."
I loved this book. Tilly Trotter is a realistic character, facing both happiness and misery. She experiences love, fear, and learns to face down cruel people that prefer to judge others rather than take a good look at themselves. Catherine Cookson also does a superb job showing us the early days of mining and the hardships and working conditions the miners faced.
What is going to become of Tilly Trotter? I must read the next one to find out.
The back of the book says Tilly becomes the loving mistress of a wealthy man. This gives the wrong impression as Tilly is not a prostitute of any sort, but more of a nurse and caregiver. So do not be put off by the use of the word "mistress."
I loved this book. Tilly Trotter is a realistic character, facing both happiness and misery. She experiences love, fear, and learns to face down cruel people that prefer to judge others rather than take a good look at themselves. Catherine Cookson also does a superb job showing us the early days of mining and the hardships and working conditions the miners faced.
What is going to become of Tilly Trotter? I must read the next one to find out.
February 2, 2014
This is the first book of the Tilly Trotter tetralogy.
In this book, the author describes the tough life of a young woman who was raised by her grandparents and struggles to survive after their death.
She became a governess of Mark Sopwith's children but she looses her job quite soon.
In order to survive, she accepts to live with the Drews and start to work in a mining filed which belongs to her old master.
Due a collapse in his mining, Mark and Tilly will have their destiny changed forever.
To worsen things, due to a scandal involving missing money, Tilly is considered as a witch by the local villagers.
I do love Catherine Cookson books since she knows how to go deepen in her characters, showing all human nature.
Tilly saga continues with "Tilly Trotter Wed", "Tilly Trotter Widowed." and Tilly Alone."
Page 160:
'Everything in life has to be paid for and I've never been in debt yet, so there's no doubt, my dear, that you will, and with interest.'
Page 370:
She knew she was being mealy-mouthed, but she couldn't say, it's lovely, 'cos as her granny would have said, never believe what the mirror tell you 'cos you only see what you want to see.
Page 394:
'He has hardly anything in his house but books, just the bare necessities and book.'
Page 396:
'What is your mind, Trotter, and in the minds of most of your class is that you are the only people who suffer indignities, the only people who haven't any chance of excitement, these you make yourself believe are prerogatives of the upper class. Now, I am right?'
Page 416:
She knew what happened to serving girls who gave in to masters. Oh yes, she knew that well enough.
4* Feathers in the Fire
5* Katie Mulholland
4* The Mallen Streak
5* The Black Velvet Gown
4* Tilly Trotter
TBR Tilly Trotter Wed
TBR Tilly Trotter Widowed
TBR Tilly Alone
TBR The Rag Nymph
TBR The Mallen Girl
TBR The Mallen Litter
TBR The Maltese Angel
TBR Our Kate (author's biography)
TBR The Fifteen Streets
In this book, the author describes the tough life of a young woman who was raised by her grandparents and struggles to survive after their death.
She became a governess of Mark Sopwith's children but she looses her job quite soon.
In order to survive, she accepts to live with the Drews and start to work in a mining filed which belongs to her old master.
Due a collapse in his mining, Mark and Tilly will have their destiny changed forever.
To worsen things, due to a scandal involving missing money, Tilly is considered as a witch by the local villagers.
I do love Catherine Cookson books since she knows how to go deepen in her characters, showing all human nature.
Tilly saga continues with "Tilly Trotter Wed", "Tilly Trotter Widowed." and Tilly Alone."
Page 160:
'Everything in life has to be paid for and I've never been in debt yet, so there's no doubt, my dear, that you will, and with interest.'
Page 370:
She knew she was being mealy-mouthed, but she couldn't say, it's lovely, 'cos as her granny would have said, never believe what the mirror tell you 'cos you only see what you want to see.
Page 394:
'He has hardly anything in his house but books, just the bare necessities and book.'
Page 396:
'What is your mind, Trotter, and in the minds of most of your class is that you are the only people who suffer indignities, the only people who haven't any chance of excitement, these you make yourself believe are prerogatives of the upper class. Now, I am right?'
Page 416:
She knew what happened to serving girls who gave in to masters. Oh yes, she knew that well enough.
4* Feathers in the Fire
5* Katie Mulholland
4* The Mallen Streak
5* The Black Velvet Gown
4* Tilly Trotter
TBR Tilly Trotter Wed
TBR Tilly Trotter Widowed
TBR Tilly Alone
TBR The Rag Nymph
TBR The Mallen Girl
TBR The Mallen Litter
TBR The Maltese Angel
TBR Our Kate (author's biography)
TBR The Fifteen Streets
November 16, 2017
Loved this book and still do today. If you have never read books by Catherine cookson you might enjoy this story. Recommended.
July 26, 2021
Catherine Cookson's novels are typical of the 70s & 80s, I believe. Multigenerational historical sagas with births, marriages, deaths, hard lives, accidents, injustices, the good guys & the very wicked... Just like Poldark and many other popular literature of that era. A far cry from today's type of novels, but a refreshing change now and then. 3.5 stars
June 17, 2020
I found it somewhat interesting. The world building and setting of the 1809’s was really well done. The characters were okay though I couldn’t really connect to any of them. The ending was very abrupt and not at all what I was expecting as an ending. Didn’t enjoy my experience as I had hoped. But know that I have read the first book in the trilogy and as a series reader myself I have to assume that it gets better or I enjoy it a little bit more. I will pick up the next book however, it may not be for a while as I really need to be in the mood to read another Catherine Cookson book I think...
August 27, 2017
Though I enjoyed this book, it's one that I'm dismayed to hear that there are sequels for. And from the looks of them, they don't look all that interesting. Sidenote: I recommend the movie! There's usually a copy floating around on YTube.
Y'all: spoilers abound.
In many ways this book was frustrating to read, because I was totally impotent with rage at the way the townspeople treated her. Covering up the obvious murder of her grandparents? Gossiping about witchcraft? ENCOURAGING Hal to rape and marry her? Ugh. The worst small-town, small-minded people ever. It was a bit much - I couldn't quite believe that Farmer Bentwood's bride could not forgive him for helping to stop a rape.
Farmer Bentwood did not deserve Tilly's ire. He watched out for her all her life, but just cause he's not attracted to her, he becomes a bad guy?
But still, I quite liked this book. I'm unsure if I'm going to keep my copy of it or donate it, as it won't be a frequent reread. I loved Tilly's friendship with the family that brought her into their home, despite already bursting at the seams with children. I loved that she helped them as much as they helped her. I loved the scenes at the mine, the friendships she made, even the frank discussion she had with the mother about whether or not she should become a mistress (and the lack of judgement there). I do think Mark Sopwith's suffering was a bit overkill. Loses his feet, loses his son, loses his mine. How is he ever going to work again? Did we have to become emotionally attached to the son, only for his death to be a sidenote?
All in all, a good read. I can't imagine what else Cookson felt she needed to write about Tilly's life, but I'll give it a shot anyway.
Y'all: spoilers abound.
In many ways this book was frustrating to read, because I was totally impotent with rage at the way the townspeople treated her. Covering up the obvious murder of her grandparents? Gossiping about witchcraft? ENCOURAGING Hal to rape and marry her? Ugh. The worst small-town, small-minded people ever. It was a bit much - I couldn't quite believe that Farmer Bentwood's bride could not forgive him for helping to stop a rape.
Farmer Bentwood did not deserve Tilly's ire. He watched out for her all her life, but just cause he's not attracted to her, he becomes a bad guy?
But still, I quite liked this book. I'm unsure if I'm going to keep my copy of it or donate it, as it won't be a frequent reread. I loved Tilly's friendship with the family that brought her into their home, despite already bursting at the seams with children. I loved that she helped them as much as they helped her. I loved the scenes at the mine, the friendships she made, even the frank discussion she had with the mother about whether or not she should become a mistress (and the lack of judgement there). I do think Mark Sopwith's suffering was a bit overkill. Loses his feet, loses his son, loses his mine. How is he ever going to work again? Did we have to become emotionally attached to the son, only for his death to be a sidenote?
All in all, a good read. I can't imagine what else Cookson felt she needed to write about Tilly's life, but I'll give it a shot anyway.
February 28, 2022
Aye bay bay 🙋♀️
June 24, 2020
This was the most awesome book! I haven't read that much of Mrs. Cookson's books, but now I am ravenous for more! Her characters are 5 dimensional and she makes me cry and laugh and overall gives a glimpse of history that has been lacking in every book I've ever read before.
Altogether stupendous reading her books and I can't stop wanting more and more!
Altogether stupendous reading her books and I can't stop wanting more and more!
January 12, 2011
Well I am "reading" this as an audio book. So far very good. I love audio books that are easy to listen to when doing mundane or non brain drain jobs.
Catherine Cookson does a good yarn and is always easy. Will update review when finished. :)
Catherine Cookson does a good yarn and is always easy. Will update review when finished. :)
November 13, 2015
was pretty good, I love books on the old days, poor to rich stories.
May 17, 2025
Matilda Trotter is raised on the outskirts of a small village by her grandparents. As she grows older she falls in love with Simon Bentwood who is a tenant farmer on property owned by Mark Sopwith who lives in the manor and also owns the mines where most of the poorest villagers are employed. Though Tilly is very content with her life she will soon find her happiness ruined by the unwanted attention of Hal Mcgarth. It is his pursuit of her and her refusal that starts the villagers believing that she is a witch. Unhappy with the events that this causes saddening from her unrequited love of Simon. And left without a home after the tragic passing of her grandparents she must now make her own way in the village filled with cruel people filled with their own strange fears and superstitions. The reader will follow young Tilly from a homey cottage to the darkness of a mine . To her position as a nursery maid. This book does hold the readers attention as we follow Tilly throughout the first part of her life. It does contain some content that could be upsetting to some readers but it is handled lightly.
January 11, 2026
I started this book while travelling and thought of leaving it behind in order not to pack. It wasn't so bad. It was just... OK I guess. But I forgot to put it somewhere so it stayed in my backpack and a few months later I finished it. I started from the beginning actually.
It didn't end up the way I thought it would when I started but it's quite easy to predict the ending when tou reach middle of the book.
I gave it 4 stars (thought of 3 but decided that it was better than that) but somehow it's hard to say something about the story.
It didn't end up the way I thought it would when I started but it's quite easy to predict the ending when tou reach middle of the book.
I gave it 4 stars (thought of 3 but decided that it was better than that) but somehow it's hard to say something about the story.
July 11, 2018
Despite having read a few Catherine Cooksons I found this one unreadable. I just couldn't get into it. I do like the adaptation for TV but I suppose that's because they cut out a lot of stuff to make it a bit pacier.
See our review of the TV adaptation, as well as those for The Glass Virgin and The Fifteen Streets, on What Have You's youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbhua...
See our review of the TV adaptation, as well as those for The Glass Virgin and The Fifteen Streets, on What Have You's youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbhua...
February 4, 2023
okay well.. erm.. i really wanted to like it 😭😭 i really loved tilly !! and i thought it was brilliantly written. the characters were so charming and it really pulled you into the time. the pacing was really well done, and i loved the tragic way men were always falling in love with tilly.
i just really, really, really, REALLY (like really) wish it ended differently. like are you fucking serious ? im so sick and tired of the heroine ending up with a man at the end, when everything else in the book has been pointing to them remaining single !!! its the most frustrating, and frankly contrite, ending in the book.
and also,,,, "everyone already thinks ur sleeping with your boss so why not" is not a good reason for fucks sake 😭😭😭😭😭
i just really, really, really, REALLY (like really) wish it ended differently. like are you fucking serious ? im so sick and tired of the heroine ending up with a man at the end, when everything else in the book has been pointing to them remaining single !!! its the most frustrating, and frankly contrite, ending in the book.
and also,,,, "everyone already thinks ur sleeping with your boss so why not" is not a good reason for fucks sake 😭😭😭😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2018
I have read this book a countless number of times. Yet despite this, I still find I cannot put it down. If you have never read any Catherine Cookson then this is the first book by the author that I would recommend. A classic ‘poor girl meets rich man’ romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2021
A love story.
I thought it was a very fast moving story and I enjoyed it. I would like for it to have been more in dearth but I’m hoping the next book wilt bring out more characters but it also a very sweet story.
I thought it was a very fast moving story and I enjoyed it. I would like for it to have been more in dearth but I’m hoping the next book wilt bring out more characters but it also a very sweet story.
April 19, 2022
I read this as a young teen. I think I learned social history from Catherine Cookson & her descriptions of poverty as much as the school text books. The fiction brought the fact to life using unchallenging language.
December 3, 2024
I found this to be a bit slow to begin with but then, after warming up, it was quite enjoyable to read until about halfway through and it started going downhill again. I won't be reading the others in the series.
February 17, 2017
65% interesting, 35% cheesy. I didn't dislike it, but I'm not sure I'm going to read the rest of the trilogy.
February 17, 2017
Review of Tilly Trotter : https://mortalminded.com/2017/02/04/t...
December 6, 2017
Some fictions really make you feel good about life and how it has to offer you good for all the good that you have done, better late than never.
dnf
October 9, 2019DNF. THIS book's been on my list for years but it's just not my style. 100 pages in, don't have the interest to go further.
February 13, 2020
Loved the Trilogy...
January 31, 2021
Miner vs manor struggles of village and young woman
Read
May 17, 2021Classic sick lit, and exactly what I needed this post-vax/reentry week. I'm sure I'll finish the series, but I doubt I'll do so immediately.
September 15, 2022
Het boek begint goed met een meisje dat bij haar zeer arme grootouders woont in een kleine cottage.
May 7, 2023
A beautiful rich story.
July 2, 2024
One of my absolute favourite Cookson’s - Tilly is such an enigmatic character. Hate Hal so much.
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September 5, 2024Rereading the Catherine Cookson novels of my youth!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews