The Battle for Christabel

by Margaret Forster

Rowena wants a baby. What she doesn't want is the baby's father. Yet five years after the birth of Christabel, Rowena is dead, tragically killed in a climbing accident. The battle for Christabel has begun...

With signature skill, Margaret Forster reveals the conflicting personal interests that lie behind each character’s claim on the child. Drawn from the perspectives of social workers, grandparents, lovers and foster-mothers, this novel is a remarkable and heartfelt exploration of the complexities of motherhood.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Margaret Forster was educated at the Carlisle and County High School for Girls. From here she won an Open Scholarship to Somerville College, Oxford where in 1960 she was awarded an honours degree in History.

From 1963 Margaret Forster worked as a novelist, biographer and freelance literary critic, contributing regularly to book programmes on television, to Radio 4 and various newpapers and magazines.

Forster was married to the writer, journalist and broadcaster Hunter Davies. They lived in London. and in the Lake District. They had three children, Caitlin, Jake and Flora.

Reviews

[Jude Hayland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel- it was a great discovery as I thought I had read everything by Margaret Forster- and this, for me, is Forster at her best. How sad that there will be no more- I used to anticipate a new novel by her with such excitement and interest.

[Hilary Tesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the beginning of the book you already know the eponymous battle for Christobel will be lost - and then the circumstances are unfolded in the author’s exquisite writing style. Christobel’s future is uncertain after her single mother, Rowena dies in an accident and neither her grandmother and aunt wish to adopt her. Nevertheless, her grandmother, a bigoted and snobbish old lady, then expects to be able to direct the attempts of social services to have Christobel fostered and then adopted. The story of the ensuing battle is told in the first person by Isobel, Rowena’s closest friend, who cares for Christobel but has decided feelings about motherhood. The story is very bleak at times as the various sides in the battle clash - but it is also compelling.

[Rebecca Duff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written book which had me interested from the start. I found the storyline a little lame; having no warm feelings to the main character, but I learned a lot about how the foster care system works!

[Tracey- Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read . Margaret Forster wrote a very sympathetic book . When Christabel’s mother Rowena died , the battle for custody begins . That battle was full of mixed emotions , sentiments and motives which the author captured well .

[Therese Dotray-Tulloch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written provocative read about a little girl who is forced into the foster care system despite a loving family trying to care for her.

[Judith Falkner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy this book because the author described the worst parts of human nature extremely well. It was well written as always, I just don’t enjoy reading about people being unpleasant.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful, compelling and heart breaking read.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isobel's best friend, Rowena, wants a child but not the baby's father. She gets pregnant and has the child (Christabel) but, when her daughter is 4 years old, Rowena is killed in a tragic accident. Rowena's only remaining family comprises her mother (formidable but aged and living in sheltered accommodation) and her sister, Priscilla (a gifted flautist always travelling the world). Neither feels that they can take on responsibility for Christabel and nor does best friend Isobel, although she feels guilty and that she ought to be putting herself forward. The family therefore put Christabel up for adoption, little realising the traumas to come when Social Services become involved. This book really struck a chord with me as I have had my own 'run-ins' with social workers and the descriptions of what the social workers did and said and how the family were made to feel really rang true. The family, particularly the grandmother, felt that the social workers and the temporary foster mother were very much against them and determined to thwart their wishes at every turn and I must admit to having felt very much the same myself. A great read - 9/10.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a while to get into as it was written in a quite unusual style different to the other Margaret Forster book i read (diary of an ordinary woman) which I really enjoyed

Christabel is a little mixed race 5 year old and when her single white mum dies in an accident christabels aging middle class grandmother and her aunt decide it would be best if she is placed for adoption, her mothers childhood friend .who has known christabel all her life is charged with putting the wheels in motion. The family wrongly thought they could have some kind of say in who adopts christabel and how much contact they still get with her. What they don't realise is once you start a process like offering a child for adoption the state takes over and what they consider best goes above any family concerns or wishes. and so they battle for Christabel began, a very moving story about a confused little girl, the family who didn't realise how much they wanted her until faced with losing her and social services who have only have what they consider the best interests of the child in mind.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sad and frustrating story about what happens to a little girl when her single mother is killed in an accident at the early age of 36. There is a battle between social workers, the child's grandmother and aunt, and the mother's life-long friend who is the narrator of the book. I'm afraid there is no happy ending for anyone in "The Battle for Christabel".

Margaret Forster is an excellent writer and she certainly held my attention throughout the book, which read more like a sociological document than a novel. I'm afraid there are so many real cases like this today that I felt depressed by the time I had finished reading it. Life is difficult enough - I would prefer to read something more uplifting in future.

[Tanis · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked Zoe Heller's Notes on a Scandal I am sure you will like this too. The main character, Isobel, is much in the same vein as the the horrible friend in NoaS. Isobel is not a bad person, she's just so difficult to like, she doesn't do anything wrong but she's quite horrible to her 'friend' and its hard to remember she's only in her mid thirties at the start of the book. She comes across as a very bitter older woman. This doesn't make this a difficult read though, the story is gripping and keeps you interested right to the last page.

I'm taking this to the Birmingham Bookcrossing Unconvention at the end of September so if you're going you will find this book there if you want it.

[Anne Blunsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christibel is orphaned. A huge furore breaks out when social services are given the job of securing her future. There is a clash of opinions about what is best for Christobel. The story is based on the 1980s Children's act. What is best for Christobel, where would she thrive best and given the conflict of interests how can a small child express what they would like to happen. Did they get it right? I don't think they did and I don't think they ever could. What do you think?

[Sarah]

This book made me cross from the start as it seemed to give away the ending on the very first page. I spent most of the book wondering why I was reading it when I knew the ending. My last Margaret Forster I think.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent offering by Margaret Forster describing ill-fated decisions, friendship and trying to beat the system.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

always enjoy Margaret Forster, an interesting account of family relationships

[Jemima Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love u christabel xoxoxox