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Huset på heden
Cissie Brodie är femton år när föräldrarna dör och hon lämnas ensam att ta hand om sina nio yngre syskon. För att slippa fattighuset - året är 1832 och miljön det engelska höglandet - flyttar hon till en grotta på heden. Hon arbetar hårt för att göra den beboelig, stänga kylan ute och hålla svälten borta. Men med hjälp av den uppoffrande vännen Matthew Turnbull, en vagnmakare, lyckas hon skapa ett hem för de sina.
Det är på lord Fischels ägor de bor. Hans dotter Isabelle kan inte tåla Cissie och hetsar sin tvillingbror Clive att våldta henne. Och så får huset på heden ännu en mun att mätta. Clives dåd får vittgående följdverkningar, inte bara för Cissie utan också för Clive och hans far.
Catherine Cookson berättar med värme och medkänsla historien om Cissie Brodie, denna tappra och beundransvärda unga kvinna som till sist finner lyckan.
Det är på lord Fischels ägor de bor. Hans dotter Isabelle kan inte tåla Cissie och hetsar sin tvillingbror Clive att våldta henne. Och så får huset på heden ännu en mun att mätta. Clives dåd får vittgående följdverkningar, inte bara för Cissie utan också för Clive och hans far.
Catherine Cookson berättar med värme och medkänsla historien om Cissie Brodie, denna tappra och beundransvärda unga kvinna som till sist finner lyckan.
310 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
118 people are currently reading
1614 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cookson
501 books684 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 171 reviews
July 10, 2020
Cissie Brodie grew up on a tenant farm in 1840s England. When cholera took her parents, the fifteen-year-old girl was left caring for nine younger siblings. To keep them out of the workhouse, Cissie moves them to a cave in the fells. She makes the heartbreaking decision to send the older boys out to work in the mines. Some of her sisters worked in the homes of the wealthy. When the life of the offspring of a rich landowner intersects with Cissie's, her world undergoes another great change. Cissie is resilient and overcomes great hardships.
The book captures the plight of the 19th Century poor, especially in depicting the long hours and unsafe conditions worked by children. The story also shows the privileged life of the upper class. This book is among the many novels by Catherine Cookson that was adapted into a TV film. While I didn't care for the ending of the book, the interesting characters and the challenges they faced kept my interest. 3.5 stars.
The book captures the plight of the 19th Century poor, especially in depicting the long hours and unsafe conditions worked by children. The story also shows the privileged life of the upper class. This book is among the many novels by Catherine Cookson that was adapted into a TV film. While I didn't care for the ending of the book, the interesting characters and the challenges they faced kept my interest. 3.5 stars.
June 30, 2018
CONTENT WARNING: Hardcore glorification of rape culture in this book.
As another reviewer said, this book was strange; it was incredibly engrossing, a very quick read (partly because it was so engrossing), and yet . . . even for 1958 . . . I'm sorry, but there are elements that are so inappropriate that I don't even know where to begin.
What I enjoyed was that this was a sort of dystopian survival novel . . . except it takes place early in the 19th century. Cissie, 15, is the eldest of eleven children (there were 14, but three died previously) when her own parents and an infant die of fever. This is in the County of Durham in Northeast England, and there are few options for the absolutely destitute. But Cissie will hear nothing of her siblings going "into the Poor Law" -- obviously horrific. So with the help of a kind young wheelwright, Cissie manages to set up house in a cave on the fells ["a hill or stretch of high moorland, esp. in Northern England"]. It's fascinating because it goes into great detail about their belongings, their meager meals, how they make do, a sort of Boxcar Children for adults.
So there's Cissie and her brood, Matthew the Wheelwright, and then Lord Fischel and his mansion and awful (adult) children, Clive and Isabelle. Isabelle is about as evil as a villain can be.
This is definitely for adults, because there is a violent and traumatic rape (but I didn't even realize it was a rape until there were hints and I had to go back and re-read it; the scene itself isn't graphic) central to the plot.
I could relate to the reader who gave it 4 stars because it's so engrossing, but ultimately it's so appalling that I can't in good conscience recommend it to anybody unless they like the "survival on the fells" sort of plot enough to endure the icky stuff. Reminds me of Sarah Bishop by Scott O'Dell -- based on a true story about a young woman who, in dire straits, ended up living in a cave. Read that instead.
As another reviewer said, this book was strange; it was incredibly engrossing, a very quick read (partly because it was so engrossing), and yet . . . even for 1958 . . . I'm sorry, but there are elements that are so inappropriate that I don't even know where to begin.
What I enjoyed was that this was a sort of dystopian survival novel . . . except it takes place early in the 19th century. Cissie, 15, is the eldest of eleven children (there were 14, but three died previously) when her own parents and an infant die of fever. This is in the County of Durham in Northeast England, and there are few options for the absolutely destitute. But Cissie will hear nothing of her siblings going "into the Poor Law" -- obviously horrific. So with the help of a kind young wheelwright, Cissie manages to set up house in a cave on the fells ["a hill or stretch of high moorland, esp. in Northern England"]. It's fascinating because it goes into great detail about their belongings, their meager meals, how they make do, a sort of Boxcar Children for adults.
So there's Cissie and her brood, Matthew the Wheelwright, and then Lord Fischel and his mansion and awful (adult) children, Clive and Isabelle. Isabelle is about as evil as a villain can be.
This is definitely for adults, because there is a violent and traumatic rape (but I didn't even realize it was a rape until there were hints and I had to go back and re-read it; the scene itself isn't graphic) central to the plot.
I could relate to the reader who gave it 4 stars because it's so engrossing, but ultimately it's so appalling that I can't in good conscience recommend it to anybody unless they like the "survival on the fells" sort of plot enough to endure the icky stuff. Reminds me of Sarah Bishop by Scott O'Dell -- based on a true story about a young woman who, in dire straits, ended up living in a cave. Read that instead.
July 9, 2010
Catherine Cookson has recently become one of my favorite authors. Cookson creates powerfully touching novels of love and overcoming the odds, two things that I greatly enjoy reading about. The Dwelling place is such a novel. It tells the story of a courageous young girl who takes on the challenge of raising her many brothers and sisters. It's touching and very interesting plot wise. I recommend it to those who LOVE historical fiction and perhaps those who like not having the difficulty of something like Jane Austen. What I'm getting at is that it's pretty straightforward.
Anyways, there is a film adaptation which I highly recommend! That's another thing I like about Cookson's novels; I can usually watch a movie after reading one of them. It's nice to compare and gush over the lead men, when their gush worthy mind. ;)
Anyways, there is a film adaptation which I highly recommend! That's another thing I like about Cookson's novels; I can usually watch a movie after reading one of them. It's nice to compare and gush over the lead men, when their gush worthy mind. ;)
May 12, 2018
This book has an absolutely terrible, super damaging philosophy of love and sex, and I threw it in the garbage. It might be the only book I've ever thrown in the garbage, and I have no regrets. The ending (and the relationships between Cissie and everyone else, but especially the conclusion) is brutal. 10/10 do not recommend.
March 20, 2015
THis one was very strange. I'm a little mixed in my opinion of it. I will say it had my undivided attention so for engrossing reading I have to give it 4 stars. So why do I say its "strange". Well, it didn't start strange (for a CC novel) but it definitely ENDED strange. I don't want to give a spoiler review so I won't say WHAT that far fetched strangeness WAS; but suffice it to say this heroine had guts, determination and a whole lot of forgiveness in her heart. Some of CC characters are so evil they seem unreal and in this book the most evil character is female. Between her and her puppet brother, the heroine's life just about isn't worth living. Yet she manages to keep body and soul together to raise her siblings in a cave. But is everything as it seems and are the villains 100% evil? Youll have to read it and find out.
September 12, 2019
Oh my god. I’m shocked about appalled by the amount of 5 *s. HOW DID YOU MISS THAT SHE MARRIES HER RAPIST? Cassie has 2 choices: bipolar Matthew (nice before his wedding, controlling/possessive afterwards -basically he marries someone he doesn’t love so he can take care of Cassie. YOU KNOW WHAT, MATTHEW? BAD CHOICE. Cause he only ends up RESENTFUL.) or rapist Clive. Catherine Cookson is like BUT IMMA make this rapist nice. IT WASNT HIS FAULT, cause Cassie is poor and Clive sister is KRA-KRA. Ugh. The worst. Ever. Nope. Nope. Rape culture to the T. It’s sad, gross and Stockholm Syndrome all over the dwelling place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2014
A TV series The Dwelling Place (1994) was made based on this book.
From IMDb:
Set in the 1830's, the film tells the story of 16-year-old Cissie Brodie after the death of parents, and the repossession of the family home. She finds a barren place to live and care for her younger brothers and sisters with the help of Matthew, a local carpenter, but her life becomes complicated when the aristocratic Fischel family take an unwelcome interest.
From IMDb:
Set in the 1830's, the film tells the story of 16-year-old Cissie Brodie after the death of parents, and the repossession of the family home. She finds a barren place to live and care for her younger brothers and sisters with the help of Matthew, a local carpenter, but her life becomes complicated when the aristocratic Fischel family take an unwelcome interest.
January 8, 2009
I think I read this book for the first time when I was a middle teenager & I still have the worn out paperback copy with the torn cover. I have read it many times since & have read all of Catherine Cookson's books but none stayed with me as this one did...
August 30, 2016
I honestly had no idea that I would fall in love with this book when I randomly picked it from the library shelves. But I did fall in love with this story. It's both simple, yet thought-provoking. It's both beautiful and horrible. And I really, really liked it and found it actually quite difficult to put down, but now I'm hard-pressed to find the right things to say about my reading experience.
If interested, you can find my short thoughts HERE.
If interested, you can find my short thoughts HERE.
March 24, 2014
The one with the happy ending!
December 31, 2017
Very well written. Easy to read but very hard to put down.
April 24, 2018
Great story, and amazing female MC!
June 21, 2022
DNF
Това е от редките случаи, когато филмът е много по-добър от книгата, и предпочитам да си остана с него, при това е доста стар.
Това е от редките случаи, когато филмът е много по-добър от книгата, и предпочитам да си остана с него, при това е доста стар.
September 16, 2019
I won't lie, I really wanted to like this book, there were some parts of this that were kind of heartbreaking to read (and man does this book want you to know that it sucked being a poor person back in ye olde days, and you know how much one can be capable of hating their own kids/children in general). Cookson clearly wanted to write a book about social classes in 1830-50s (iirc) England, and have harrowing tale of a girl struggling to keep her family together against all odds and blah blah something about sibling love (which I'm sorry to say, most of Cissie's siblings were so nondescript and uninteresting, I barely kept track or interest in all 495879 of them).
But man there is just that one big glaring elephant in the room that got resolved so weirdly, and boy talk about your problematic content . The 'love triangle' in this book just reminded me of Angel Clare and Alec d'Urberville vying for Tess D'urberville but only one of them is marginally less of a detestable asshole than the other. Also maybe focusing on a few characters and less info-dumping would've helped this book a lot.
But man there is just that one big glaring elephant in the room that got resolved so weirdly, and boy talk about your problematic content . The 'love triangle' in this book just reminded me of Angel Clare and Alec d'Urberville vying for Tess D'urberville but only one of them is marginally less of a detestable asshole than the other. Also maybe focusing on a few characters and less info-dumping would've helped this book a lot.
February 25, 2013
Read this book in the 70's when I was a teenager, recently re-read it and now I remember why it has always been in the back of my mind as a great story. Catherine Cookson brings to life Cissie and the Brodie family, struggling to survive against all odds as only an author who has experienced hardships and come from the bottom up can. I always feel that Catherine Cookson "knows what makes people tick". The dialect of the common people in that part of England during that era is fun to read. Some of the expressions I've heard from my own grandmother here in America over the years!
June 30, 2015
SPOILER ALERT - This book includes a rape.
Catherine Cookson wrote so many books, sometimes they are a bit hokey, but I liked most of this book except for one very large thing. I don't believe that a rape victim would ever fall in love with their rapist. Because of this, I cannot give it a higher rating, although I liked most of the characters and admired the heroine Cissie's strength and fortitude immensely.
Catherine Cookson wrote so many books, sometimes they are a bit hokey, but I liked most of this book except for one very large thing. I don't believe that a rape victim would ever fall in love with their rapist. Because of this, I cannot give it a higher rating, although I liked most of the characters and admired the heroine Cissie's strength and fortitude immensely.
September 14, 2013
Started off ok, as expected in typical Catherine Cookson style, usual ups and downs, earthy descriptions, hardship, hard working people making the best of things, class tensions and strife...and then became distasteful in ways that I found appalling, particularly in the choice made by the female protagonist at the end.
April 9, 2018
Love my Cookson books. I'm not often a fan of the happy sappy ending but this one made me happy :) Lots of likable characters; even the characters we were supposed to hate were likable in a way...sometimes you like to hate someone. I like a story that covers years and years and this one did it very well.
October 12, 2020
Fabulous read!
This is the first Catherine Cookson I’ve ever read and it won’t be the last. Cookson is a master story teller. No wonder so many of her books made it on to our TV screens!
This is the first Catherine Cookson I’ve ever read and it won’t be the last. Cookson is a master story teller. No wonder so many of her books made it on to our TV screens!
October 8, 2024
I enjoyed reading this.
May 25, 2015
Well, this is one of the most wonderful books I have ever read. Although the novel is not part of the world classics, and the characters are not complicated and the plot not philosophical, I would recommend it with all my heart. I managed to read it for two days despite its 400 pages. I have watched the mini-series a few times before reading the book itself, but I would say, both are are worthy one's attention. I loved both the book and the series. BUT the series are different than the book, one leaves with a different impression at the end of it. I would recommend to read the book first.
***SPOILERS***
I cannot understand why the most of the readers like Matthew's character. He appeared to me egoistic and possessive. By the end of the book I already disliked him completely. He treated both Rose and Cissie terribly. I think Cissie did not really love him, but it was her teenage first romantic touch, and the situation they were in. I think she was depending on him and saw him as their saviour and only friend. My impression is that she was not quite happy during her marriage. Otherwise she would not feel "released" after Matthew's death and would mourn and remember him with love. I did not notice any of them. What is more, I do not recall having read that she loved Matthew since Clive's first return in her live.
A lot of people say what she felt for Clive was the product of "Stockholm syndrome", but I do not believe it. It took her time to fall in love with him. Besides, he showed her enough times, that she should not be afraid of him. Cissie and Clive's love developed as a real love story. Despite not having seen each other 18 years long and all bad memories in the past, they thought about each other and realised the love they felt for each other.
Clive proved to be reliable and loving. She loved Cissie truly and never pressed her with his presence and desires, never came whining to her, as Matthew did many times.
I am sorry that the author separated them for 18 years, maybe I liked the series' ending a little bit more.
***SPOILERS***
I cannot understand why the most of the readers like Matthew's character. He appeared to me egoistic and possessive. By the end of the book I already disliked him completely. He treated both Rose and Cissie terribly. I think Cissie did not really love him, but it was her teenage first romantic touch, and the situation they were in. I think she was depending on him and saw him as their saviour and only friend. My impression is that she was not quite happy during her marriage. Otherwise she would not feel "released" after Matthew's death and would mourn and remember him with love. I did not notice any of them. What is more, I do not recall having read that she loved Matthew since Clive's first return in her live.
A lot of people say what she felt for Clive was the product of "Stockholm syndrome", but I do not believe it. It took her time to fall in love with him. Besides, he showed her enough times, that she should not be afraid of him. Cissie and Clive's love developed as a real love story. Despite not having seen each other 18 years long and all bad memories in the past, they thought about each other and realised the love they felt for each other.
Clive proved to be reliable and loving. She loved Cissie truly and never pressed her with his presence and desires, never came whining to her, as Matthew did many times.
I am sorry that the author separated them for 18 years, maybe I liked the series' ending a little bit more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2017
Ok, it seems there are many contradictions regarding the plot of this story and personally, I feel, this is as a result of many who had watched the mini-series believing the novel is accurate to the tv/movie adaptation, which it is not.
To clear few basic facts:
Although I think many readers of Cookson are ladies, this is not a chick-lit genre novel. (I also believe this will appeal appeals to women rather than to men) There is nothing humorous or lighthearted about a tale of a poor working class family of nine siblings, orphaned and relying on the eldest sister to keep them all together. Through her determination she takes care of them and keeps the family together. Cissie Brodie's character is admirable compared to many Victorian women we read in classics.
Another thing I'd like to point out is there's no romance in this. In order to understand Clive Fischel one must read the history of that family. As for the 'relationship' between Clive and Cissie, it's very complicated. He is driven by guilt and she is a girl showing serious signs of Stockholm Syndrome (We may have to call it Country Durham Syndrome or something.) Matthew Turnbull's love for Cissie is very possessive, I personally didn't like his treatment to any of the women in his life, however, he does make a lot of sacrifices for Cissie.
I thought it was well written tale of a woman (by the end of the novel is much older unlike in the movie) of strength and impeccable character who overcomes ALL obstacles.
I'd also like to read "Feathers In The Fire" by the same author which also seems to be a different book.
To clear few basic facts:
Although I think many readers of Cookson are ladies, this is not a chick-lit genre novel. (I also believe this will appeal appeals to women rather than to men) There is nothing humorous or lighthearted about a tale of a poor working class family of nine siblings, orphaned and relying on the eldest sister to keep them all together. Through her determination she takes care of them and keeps the family together. Cissie Brodie's character is admirable compared to many Victorian women we read in classics.
Another thing I'd like to point out is there's no romance in this. In order to understand Clive Fischel one must read the history of that family. As for the 'relationship' between Clive and Cissie, it's very complicated. He is driven by guilt and she is a girl showing serious signs of Stockholm Syndrome (We may have to call it Country Durham Syndrome or something.) Matthew Turnbull's love for Cissie is very possessive, I personally didn't like his treatment to any of the women in his life, however, he does make a lot of sacrifices for Cissie.
I thought it was well written tale of a woman (by the end of the novel is much older unlike in the movie) of strength and impeccable character who overcomes ALL obstacles.
I'd also like to read "Feathers In The Fire" by the same author which also seems to be a different book.
November 27, 2011
This was a sweeping tale of Cissie and all of the hardships, tragedies, and roadblocks she faced because she wanted to keep her brothers & sisters together with her after her parents died. The setting is rural England in the first half of the 19th Century, the time that Dickens' work takes place. From living in a glorified cave, to making deep sacrifices she tries to prevail. The incidences of child labor including 7-yr.-olds in mines up to 14 hours a day and 5-yr-old boys as chimney sweeps up to 12 hours a day are unimaginable to Americans in the 21st Century. However, we have to ever be on guard that we don't slip back into a time when human life was cheap and some considered starvation and disease as a way to keep the population of the common people in check. As Cissie says towards the end of the book, all of the tragedies began because people were hungry. Aside from her brothers & sisters this book's characters include Matthew the wheelwright, the nearby lord & his family, the parson, and many local villagers.
June 1, 2017
This is the first Catherine Cookson book I have read and it was excellent. The tag line on the front of the book says "Britain's Best-Loved Storyteller" and that is just what the author is -- an incredible storyteller that keeps the reader engaged until the very end.
This story revolves around Cissy Brodie, a 15 year old girl who is left to care for her numerous siblings when her parents die. If that wasn't enough, they are evicted from their home. Cissy is determined to keep the family together and so, sets out to create a "dwelling place" from a cave on the fells.
It is a story of incredible hardship and how little hope there was for people like this family due to the class differences. It is a story of goodness and evil and ultimately, it is a story of love.
This story revolves around Cissy Brodie, a 15 year old girl who is left to care for her numerous siblings when her parents die. If that wasn't enough, they are evicted from their home. Cissy is determined to keep the family together and so, sets out to create a "dwelling place" from a cave on the fells.
It is a story of incredible hardship and how little hope there was for people like this family due to the class differences. It is a story of goodness and evil and ultimately, it is a story of love.
February 8, 2012
Unfortunately I watched the movie that was based on this book right before reading the book. I kept seeing the movie in my mind as I read and I already knew to expect (or so I thought)and so I wasn't able to really get into the story. It didn't leave much to the imagination. The movie was very close to the book, except for the last few chapters. I'm glad that the ending of the book went in a different direction. I found that part most interesting of all because I didn't know what to expect at the end. Lesson learned. Read the book, then see the movie!
May 3, 2019
A great story that really reads as a non-fiction novel. During that time in history this really does portray how very difficult and downtrodden the underclass was and how children were used in dangerous work. A masterful read.
Second Reading. This book is one of the most powerful books ever written about love, loss, classism, sexism, elitism, ect. The Cissie Brodie is one of the strongest female characters ever written in my opinion. If you haven't read this book do so!
Second Reading. This book is one of the most powerful books ever written about love, loss, classism, sexism, elitism, ect. The Cissie Brodie is one of the strongest female characters ever written in my opinion. If you haven't read this book do so!
November 15, 2025
Read this as part of socio-economic history background to the conditions of the working class in the Victorian era whilst in college. A much better read than the eventual TV drama which was shown in the 1990s and far more than just a historical romance it is an unflinching tale of the human condition and the hardships of many in the 19th century.
November 24, 2010
This is one of my all time favourite reads.
I read it when I was a teenager.
I need to re-read it and experience the magic.
Cissie Brodie's character was endearing and
as a teenager, I think a bit of her responsibility
and endurance rubbed off on me.
I read it when I was a teenager.
I need to re-read it and experience the magic.
Cissie Brodie's character was endearing and
as a teenager, I think a bit of her responsibility
and endurance rubbed off on me.
November 16, 2011
Did anybody think it was weird that she stayed with the rapist? or that they had an understanding I mean, although in the movie I kinda understood but idk I was like really? She stay with the rapist!? Still liked it though lol
January 2, 2023
Most of this story was engrossing and interesting, but sadly the ending ruined it all. While the genre is romance, I didn't see anything romantic about the whole thing. Yuck.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews