The Black Candle

by Catherine Cookson

Bridget Dean Mordaunt was a woman of consequence in her own part of the world. Inheriting her father's businesses at the age of 19, by the time she was 23 in 1880, she was running them as confidently as any man. Yet the path destiny required her to follow was not an easy one.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Novels, Historical Romance, Victorian

608 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

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

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read Catherine Cookson so many years ago, and didn't remember her writing making much of an impact on me at the time. Reading tastes often change over several years and I decided to give her a whirl.

I enjoyed the story for much of the book, but either this one was too long for me or too depressing! The characters, especially Bridget, were realistically drawn and I was caught up in their life stories from the start. As I continued reading I hoped for some redemption for them, some kind of happiness out of their hopelessness.

Although the author does attempt to tie up the loose ends, the ending seemed to be contrived simply for the sake of giving the reader a feeling of, 'there. Finally there is closure!' Once I finished "The Black Candle" I realized that Catherine Cookson often did portray the dark side of human nature, and even though she contrasts it with goodness, her stories seldom ended happily.

In this story, Bridget, the heroine, *expects* her protege, Joseph, to have inherited his biological father's character flaws, even though he was raised by a stepfather. Once Joseph realized who his father was and how he had acted, he seemed helpless to prevent himself from following suit and making a similar choice (what is often called a 'self-fulfilling prophecy'.)

The tragedy of the story is that much of the paths chosen by the characters were preventable. There are a few characters who are admirable, and who triumph over their circumstances. Joseph's elderly friend Bertha Hanratty learns to cope with her sadness. Mr. Bright remains steadfastly loyal to his difficult and often unlovable, elderly employer.

I suppose it is natural for the reader to look for stories with positive, uplifting and encouraging characters, (and to have a 'let-down' feeling when disappointed), but on the whole, they won't find them in Cookson's writing. Even so, her writing does take the reader back in history and unquestionably her talent lies in making the period she write about realistic and believable.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of characters to remember and keep up with made this a slightly confusing read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A TV movie was made based on this book and is available at You Tube

From IMDb:
Yorkshire in the 1880's: Joe Skinner marries Lily Whitmore, the woman he has long admired, to give a name to her illegitimate child by Lionel Fillmore, the opportunistic son of an impoverished aristocrat. Lionel, however, has his sights set on Victoria, the naive cousin of hard-working Bridget Mordaunt, and the wealth he wrongly assumes is hers. When Joe's shiftless brother Fred threatens his marriage plans, Lionel murders him and the blame falls on Joe. Bridget's warm regard for Joe sets her on a quest to prove his innocence, the pursuit of which reveals the sordid manipulations and evil that surround Lionel. Just when Lionel believes his crime will never be discovered, Douglas, his gentle sculptor brother finds the murder weapon---and the killer's identity.

CAST:

Tara Fitzgerald as Victoria Mordaunt
Cathy Sandford as Lily Whitmore
Nathaniel Parker as Lionel Filmore
James Gaddas as Joe Skinner
Bob Smeaton as Fred Skinner
Brian Hogg as Bill Whitmore
Mo Harold as Annie Whitmore
Anne Jameson as Ma Skinner
Samantha Bond as Bridget Mordaunt
Roger Avon as George Fields
Peggy Shields as Peg the Maid
Preston Lockwood as Bright
Denholm Elliott as William Filmore
Robert Hines as Douglas Filmore
Siân Phillips as Daisy Barnett



4* Feathers in the Fire
5* Katie Mulholland
4* The Mallen Streak
5* The Black Velvet Gown
4* Tilly Trotter
5* Tilly Trotter Wed
4* Our Kate
5* The Rag Nymph
4* The Black Candle
TR Tilly Trotter Widowed
TR Tilly Alone
TR The Mallen Girl
TR The Mallen Litter
TR The Fifteen Streets
TR The Maltese Angel
TR The Wingless Bird

[Mark Tilbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had seen the TV adaptation of this novel before reading it, and was very surprised at how much more there is to the book. There are more characters in it and the depth of story is much better in the book. I'd highly recommend it if you like a good historical family saga full of secrets. I'm always impressed with Cookson's ability to transport a reader back in time and in this story she surpasses herself! An excellent read - a lengthy read, but a good one.

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read written by Catherine Cookson. Really enjoyed this book.

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given it 5 stars if the story had revolved around Bridget Mordaunt only. She was the only character I was interested in because she reminded me of Scarlett minus the vanity, the malice and the pettiness. She could talk business like a man, didn't care much for fashion and was honest to a fault. I didn't care much for Joseph Skinner and his married life. This is the second Catherine Cookson book I've read, the first one being Hannah Massey, and I've realised that for some reason her books always make me uncomfortable. The first part was all right, not too dark but then the second part was all about love and possession. This appears to be a recurrent theme in her books.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Cookson is a master storyteller! In this one she traces a family over several generations showing how the bad decisions made early in the family bear consequences in the lives of future generations. Lots of great character development over the passing of time, plus a good theme of redemption. Cookson is from an earlier time, but her stories don’t lose their power.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly sad but some redeeming storylines.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not as happy a book as The Wingless Bird. I felt that the heroine became the villain, without enough warning by the author, so I felt somewhat betrayed, and sad about most of the characters.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this is really a romance novel wrapped up in some historical dressing. But if you're going to write historical fiction, please don't have your characters speak and think as if they're current. For example, would a young woman living in the 1880s use the phrase, " self analysis?"

[Pippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this and found the ending very moving.

[Bettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Sarah Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Previously read this many years ago, but on rereading the book the story didn’t flow as well as I remembered. Still a good story but it does seem to stutter for quite awhile.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Black Candle was filmed throughout this historical context. Edward VII a Grand Master in 1874. Tyneside has be renowned and in depth association too, Freemasons. The English empire were very willing colonials and going through foreign sojourn, as although liked the power it provided the upper class. Garibaldi also a freemason in other words sent out the correct message in 1962 prior this point or whilst fighting elsewhere for unification and/ or agreed further a field with President Lincoln in 1963; wars were to be fought upon the grounds for abolition slavery. The worsen off Tyneside areas and otherwise this sinister world left behind those whilst living under the aristocratic control, met the gambler to the poor peoples expense. Acted alike the Alpha and the Omega, but that actually exterminated themselves further through making business over, whilst the English Empire was. Only tell-tale to the brutal hardliners to romance even more so shockingly told.

Little is known inside the Adam and Eve storyteller, though the oriental transcendental how English families offspring their maker. To like Romance on this note; we certainly see the difference.
Lionel is portrayed the true villain here mind cultivated his own world of above. Anybody alike Joe on the other hand the upright poor citizen never stood a chance amongst the law. Whether the belief was sewn earlier on to Victoria era and throughout the hardships of oppressive rule the only way to transcend into heaven would be on the other hand die for love. To protect Lily made him the fool in his brothers eyes Fred's however do we see a clear picture emerging, a brother was as good to him as dead. One promising note to finish on is the heart brings groups of people together where there is the new life into somebodies else's wrong-doing as much painstakingly upset it is to be akin relative. Where good and bad crops of children were born and still.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catherine Cookson writes a good period novel but just like the song goes "sad movies always make me cry" The Black Candle was a long, deep sigh. The end left me feeling sad and depressed knowing that Joseph's life with Amy would never be good and the character of heroine Bridget Mondfaunt was fatally flawed. It turned out that the Mondaunt line was as equally flawed as the Filmore line. It may not have affected me if Catherine Cookson did not have a good understanding of character and human nature. It wouldn't have mattered if I'd been left with the conclusion - interesting plot but rather unrealistic. Cookson is never unrealistic.

There is nothing wrong with giving a novel a happy ending, particularly when there's been a lot of suffering and death in the interim. It's OK if there are costs involved and compromises to be made as long as the reader gets some satisfaction and closure at the end. The Black Candle did not deliver that for me.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book overall! Be warned, it’s nearly 500 pages. I can see why because it is multi-generational. It is set in the Industrial Revolution in England, going all the way to the mid 1920’s. I like reading about that time period and seeing the changes in technology and culture, especially with the same characters growing up.

I really liked it until part 5, which is the end. No one got a happy ending, which is disappointing, but that’s life, isn’t it? Not everyone lives happily ever after. I did appreciate the examples of how one person’s decision(s) can and will effect many after, even generations after them. To quote one of the characters: “It isn’t fair what the Bible says…that the sins of the fathers are visited on the children even to the third and fourth generation…‘tisn’t fair.”

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Cookson is a great storyteller, and has great insight into human nature. This is my 3rd book by her and she shows the generational impacts of decisions made. Maybe reading 3 back to back wasn't such a great idea as the reader begins to see repetitive patterns in the stories. That said, her books are above par based on the storytelling and the sense of place and period. Her attention to detail is fabulous.

[Sharon Ryder Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another period drama from Cookson that hits the spot for a lazy afternoon.. A sad one at that.. Seems so unreal still today that justice is never served, and the guilty still live to prey on the innocent. Liked the characters in this one, and the difficulties that they face. The plot makes for good reading.

[Julia_GR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved Bridget and Loved Douglas.
Although it should have ended with them and their story because their kids were messy. How do you go from the sweetest couple of the century to Joseph and Amy?
Would have been great to see more of Bridget in her element because undeniably she is amazing.
Will be a Bridget defender for life- I support women's rights and wrongs haha

[Elizabeth Suli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read quite a few of Catherine Cookson’s novels and this was one of her best. A saga of 3 generations, complex characters interlinked with each other. I like the way her characters are complex and rounded out as the story goes on, unlike modern writing which has simple flat characters that are either good or bad. Really enjoyable.

[AbbyreadaBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best historical novels I've read thus far and possibly my favorite depiction of historic settings. Catherine Cookson did a very good and soulful job with her characters that you can't help but still carry them with you even after reading the last words.

[Marion Aranjo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing.

[Beverly Jones Bennett]

This was a great read. It was 2 books. I couldn't put it down but the ending was disappointing to me.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to sink into. A thoroughly good read with enough twists to keep one very interested.

[Mrs Susan Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing .

What an amazing story line, I was enthralled from the beginning to the end.
I would definitely recommend this book.

[Jane Dow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical romance covering decades. Long read.

[Jacaline Homych]

Catherine Cookson is always interesting.
Somewhat dark at times.
But likely "of the day" experiences.

[Lyndsey Gollogly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Cooksons books always bring out the emotions a whole range and this one does it best from sympathy to anger with some tears thrown in. This is one of my favourites.

[Kathleen Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book. It gives me an insight of the life in the last century in the North East and it is this that I find interesting about the various industries there at the time, mining etc. glassmaking etc. I find it incredible that Catherine Cookson managed to write so many books with the North East as a background and to be able to pen so many.
I have read several now including "The Black Velvet Gown" recently and several others.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Bridget Dean Mordaunt was a woman of consequence in her own part of the world. Inheriting her father's businesses at the age of nineteen, by the time she was twenty-three in 1880, she was running them as confidently as any man. Yet the path destiny required her to follow was not an easy one. Her feckless cousin Victoria became infatuated with Lionel Filmore, the fortune-hunting elder son of an old but impoverished family living in the decayed grandeur of Grove House. Bridget had no illusions about Lionel, but Victoria's happiness was paramount to her.

So a pattern began to form that would shape the lives of generations to come, a pattern of some good and some great evil, but all of it inexorably linking Bridget ever more closely with the Filmores and their house as well as the Skinners who work for Bridget. But it is Bridget who stands firmly at its centre, doing her best to shape the destinies of all around her over three generations.

The Black Candle displays all of Catherine Cookson's narrative skills and shrewd perception of human strengths and frailties which established her as our most widely-read and best-loved novelist for many years.