Tilly Trotter Wed

The Tilly Trotter Trilogy #2

by Catherine Cookson

Tilly Trotter has devotedly served Mark Sopwith at Highfield Manor for twelve years. She is his wife in all but name. Theirs is a scandalous yet happy arrangement. But when Mark dies, Tilly is left pregnant with his illegitimate child. Cast out of the manor house by Mark’s spiteful grown-up daughter, Tilly is forced to face the prejudices of the local village. No stranger to hardship, she makes do as best she can, but when a villager’s vicious attack leaves her baby son, Willy, half blinded she knows that it is time to leave her native Tyneside. A new love seems to offer an escape and so she follows her heart to America, sure that this will be the beginning of a better life. But new perils await Tilly across the ocean...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, British Literature, Victorian

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 1981

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

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of Tilly Trotter tetralogy.

Tilly's saga continues by showing her involvement with Mark and Matthew and they struggled to survive in the wild Texas with the constant and bloody attacks from the Comanches.

Another unforgettable tale written in such an engaging and moving way that we cannot feel the plot drops for any moment.

That is why I am a big fan of these old ladies romances. And all Cookson characters show how they managed to endure their tough life, in spite of tragedies coming up around them all the time.

Another magnificent book written by Dame Cookson. It seems there are too many autobiographical aspects in her stories. But I won't read Our Kate before reading some more books.

The sequel of this book is Tilly Trotter Widowed and the final volume of this saga is Tilly Alone.

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

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is only so much Catherine Cookson I can stomach. Having enjoyed the first novel in this trilogy, I was expecting more of the same, but am disappointed. No plot twists in this book, but a bit too much soppy sentimentality for my taste.

[Shirley Revill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the Catherine cookson books when they came out and still love them today.
It was a very sad day when Catherine cookson died and her stories where no more.
I like to think her memory lives on in the wonderful tales she told.
If you come across a Catherine Cookson book they are well worth a read.
Pure nostalgia. Highly recommended.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who have read the first Tilly will know that Tilly finally crossed the line between nurse and "mistress" at the very end, becoming Mark Sopwith's lover. I feel the term "mistress" is the wrong word tho, as the relationship was quite respectable in my opinion and "mistress" may give the wrong impression. Tilly Weds opens twelve years after the first Tilly ended and she has been a loving wife to Mark in all but name. Now, she is pregnant with his child and he is going six feet under. Immediately following Mark's death, all his children gather around to debate and argue over her fate, her child's fate and of course, Mark's estate and finances.

She moves back and forth from the manor to her cottage, deals with the loss of yet another dear friend, plays matchmaker, and has her baby. As usual, the village is ceaseless in their gossip and speculations regarding her. One particular villager, however, goes too far, and threatens the life of her baby. Obviously, Tilly will never be happy nor safe and perhaps she should get away...

The opportunity for escape arises in the form of Matthew, the late Mark's son. This is where I got frustrated and started yelling "No, Tilly! No!" It's my personal opionion only, but I would rather have seen her wed Steve, a kind, doting fellow also come over from the first novel. Nevertheless, Tilly does not heed my warnings and she marries Matthew and with her beloved friend, Katie in tow, heads to Texas.

I didn't like the Texas tale. It felt too much like Cookson was trying to write a western at the spur of the moment. However, I eagerly await the next part of Tilly's life. Will she be able to deal with the secrets that arise regarding her new husband? Will she stay in America even after encountering more hostility from people?

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I watched the tv-drama series made in 1999, which introduced me to the first installment to the Tilly books ( https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0635773/?... ).

The second installment (this story) has lots of surprises and very difficult choices for Tilly. One wonders how one person can attract so much difficulty.

Now, how to get my hands on installment #3. ???

Here is a good place to find information about the author and her books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/ca... and another
https://www.famousauthors.org/catheri...

[Daveen Nivedha · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ideal classic. It was perfect. For all those who get the concept of classic literature, you'd appreciate this book just as much as I do.
I love the way slavery, the concept of mistresses and bastards, Indians, and relationships are portrayed in the face of reality apt to those olden times. The author's writing style cannot be more profound to have taken me back to those times, a time I was never born and yet I could experience thanks to the author.

[Sandra Sparkler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book by Catherine Cookson.

[Shonel Teke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tilly Trotter is an enigma: she has slept with Mark Sopwith (an elderly man) and been his mistress for many years, before his demise. Life has never been kind to the alleged village witch, and this only worsens when she delivers an illegitimate child.
Her beauty is apparently her downfall, as many people who choose to judge her are the same ones who have fallen in love and been denied by Tilly. But strangely soon after, she falls in love and marries her ex-lover's eldest son Matthew. Wait, is that even legal?

She then travels with him and his half-brother/adopted son across the ocean to Texas, where he is in love with the land and promises her a home and anonymity, but her fate will follow her wherever she goes. People from back home recognize her, her reality is uncovered. Will her past ever leave her side?

While Cookson tries to cook up the image of Tilly Trotter as a woman who has been judged, scorned and hated, you can't help but judge her yourself. She is bold and beautiful, dynamic and demure, strong and courageous, but it doesn't add up.

If you have a strong moral compass, you are going to hate this woman who can change partners and swap one Sopwith male for another. It is unfair and rather ridiculous but this book reminded me of the really old soap: The Bold & the Beautiful, or some other seedy serial.

No, thank you but I am rather done with Catherine Cookson's Tilly Trotter! How on earth the author was able to suffer this character and draw it out into a trilogy is beyond me!!!

[Mookie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did it! I finally read it! I really didn't think the first Tilly Trotter book needed a sequel... and I was right. As another review mentioned, this felt like a soap opera. One thing that bothers me about some of Cookson's books, is how quickly a character can denounce her love for a recently dead partner (e.g. A Restless Need). Like, "I didn't know love until I loved you" etc. Like, her relationship with Mark Sopwith was a hundredfold more endearing than his bratty son Matthew, who was still a brat in adulthood. Uncomfortable. The whole experience in Texas felt like a waste of time. The only good thing that came out of it was her adoption of Matthew's supposed bastard daughter and frumpy Katie finally finding love where otherwise she might grow to be a lonely spinster. And what's this about white hair? What, like it happened overnight? Doesn't it need to grow out at the roots for a bit...

Still, as with all Cookson books, it held my interest.

[Annie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Cookson because I love traveling the North of England, into the barren highlands, along the docks, down into the mines, and through the bustling villages. But this was an unexpected treat, as her characters traveled to visit me in East Texas, through Galveston and Houston, along the Brazos river, through Hempstead and Washington-on-the-Brazos, all within an hour or 2 of my house. I can tell she did her research. The only thing that didn't feel quite realistic was the dialogue, but what do I really know about how all sorts of different immigrants and natives spoke 150 years ago?
Like all her novels, it was full of drama and colorful characters. I flipped pages and burned dinner because I had to know what happened next.

[Emma Francois · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I definitely liked this story better than the first. I was more of a fast read as the world was already set so it was more character driven and I understood the world a bit better. I liked Tilly’s relationship with Matthew more than with mark and I am interested to see what Tilly trotter widowed has in store

[Punit Sahani · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart goes out to Tilly for all that she has faced from being called a witch, to being a mistress, to being a legally wedded wife, to being a widow and carrying 2 bastard children along...quite a dark story but few of the bests to read and stick around in your mind.

[Hayley Jones-Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Gail Marchant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about Tilly Trotter

Catherine Cookson great again

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and it made me think. Another random free book that surprised me.

[Sherry Partington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice gentle easy read.

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this its in 3 parts but watched the film a few weeks ago and wanted to read the book.

[Molly Farrugia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fanciful

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

So confusing how she married him after the other person she was with. Still an interesting story involving her travels to America.

[Connlou Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

(c)1981 Awesome reading. All about who the rightful owner is after a homeowner dies leaving a young unmarried girl behind. Hostilities and hardship follow the death.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered Tilly Trotter and Catherine Cookson through Netflix on demand. Several Catherine Cookson novels were turned into series for British TV a decade or more ago. Tilly Wed was the first one of her books I actually read because the TV series definitely left you hanging as to what happens next. It takes a somewhat soapera turn in this sequel with who she weds but I don't want to spoil the book. The sequel is set in the early days of settling Texas. there is a somewhat annoying family secret hinted at throughout the book that just seemed tiresome. The 3rd and final one is on my list to get eventually.

I can highly recommend the Catherine Cookson TV series by the British, they are good if you are into period/historical TV/movies.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As in most of Cookson's books she writes with strong female characters overcoming some miserable circumstance or misfortune. I also love the English accents given her characters. If you like books set in old England and well developed characters, you will enjoy books by Catherine Cookson!
Tilly Trotter Wed is part of a series.

[Bookish Enchantment (Katherine Quirke) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please do not read if you feel a little down. The Tilly Trotter series will make you feel worse. It is not an uplifting book but very captivating. There is nothing but hardship sprinkled with a little love and some smiles.

Tilly Trotter is a great character - the book is enjoyable but not for somebody who wants to be left with a feel good feeling.

[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.

[Cws]

F Coo

[Magda · Rating 1 out of 5]

there were many kinds of love, and whichever one you were experiencing lessened your need for the others.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good Cookson romance.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of Cookson's best romantics.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassettes in 2001.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all three books. Tilly Trotter, Tilly Trotter Wed and Tilly Trotter widowed. Catherine Cookson was one of my favourites have read most of her books mostly the sagas.