The Mallen Girl

The Mallen Trilogy #2

by Catherine Cookson

Even as a child Barbara was beautiful. But as her beauty grew, so did the affliction which shadowed it. She was becoming more and more deaf. Yet, living in an almost silent world, Barbara was protected from the knowledge which might otherwise have destroyed her – the secret of her own parentage. But there was one who knew the secret – her governess, Anna Brigmore, who was haunted by this knowledge, and by the thought that it must one day be revealed to the girl she cherished as her own daughter. The Mallen Girl is the sequel to The Mallen Streak and the second novel in the compelling trilogy which follows the fate of the Mallens through succeeding generations.

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

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1973

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

[Shirley Revill · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read book but very hard to put down. Really enjoyed this book.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second in a trilogy, the first being The Mallen Streak. In the Mallen Streak we met the Mallens and their immediate family and servants. Only a select few made it into this novel due to death and tragedy. Once again, Anna Brigmore is a governess, this time over the late Barbara's daughter, also named Barbara. Constance, the young Barbara's aunt is across the hill running a farm. Also in attendance, is the maid, Mary, tho she has a much smaller part in this novel.

The story focuses on young Barbara and her love for her cousin, Michael, Constance's son. Barbara is deaf and amid the puppy love, teenage angst, and angry bouts of passion, readers get a look into the frustrations that a young deaf woman in the late 1800s has to deal with. Partly due to her disability, and partly due to an entire family trying to stand in the way of her being with the man she loves, Barbara becomes a manipulative and angry woman. She does something bad. Will she meet with a tragic ending like her mother did before her?

In the Mallen Streak, there was definet lines drawn between master and servant. In Mallen Girl, readers will witness those lines being erased as new ideas about rich and poor and laborors rights are introduced, much to Anna's dismay.

My only complaint is the "monologues" of the Bensham parents. They go on and on with their speeches too much. They, did, however, bring some interesting new additions to the story, by way of Daniel, John, and Katie.

Three stars because I would have liked more Barbara, less of the older Benshams. Also, at this point, I am tired of Anna and her uppitiness.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

homas Mallen, a ruthless man with a taste for high living, has been brought to financial ruin by his only legitimate son. Forced to leave his familial home with his two nieces, Barbara and Constance, they have become increasingly involved with Matthew Radlet and his half brother Donald Radlet. But Donald is the ill-legitimate son of Thomas and bears the "Mallen Streak" - not simply a shock of white hair, but a disposition towards fury and evil. His relationship with Constance must surely end in tragedy.

A TV series The Mallens was made based on this book and it is available at YouTube

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bedside table read.

The trap had hardly stopped opposite the cottage gate before the lithe figure of the young girl sprang down from it, ran up the back path, across the small courtyard, thrust open the door of the kitchen, and slammed her beaded handbag and the book she was carrying down on the table, which action caused Mary Peel, who was standing at the far end of the table, to space her lips widely apart and mouth her words in a loud voice crying, 'Now Miss Bar-bara you!'

Jeepers but that is one long sentence.

I can't say I liked this one - it was scratchy for the most, much the same as many secondinaseries are. Let's hope the third can redeem it all.

[Circa Girl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cookson's style of storytelling, which is 70-80% setup before any payoff is just not what I'm looking for right now.

[Carrie Dalby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked this one more than the first. Onto the third book in this Gothic family saga trilogy. Looking forward to the miniseries "The Mallens" I ordered to arrive.

[Mihaela Jazvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Cookson - Nasljednica Mallenovih @zagrebačka naklada
Surova i ne tako lijepa priča koja može, ali i ne mora biti nastavak prvog dijela romana. Autorica nalaže čitanje redom, no ono nije uputno.
U romanu 'Nasljednica Mallenovih' upoznajemo jednu takvu.
Mnogi je zovu nepogodom, bahatom, okrutnom, zločestom, ljubomornom, no i ona ima svoje dobre odlike, lijepa je, pametna, inteligentna i ambiciozna. Od najranije dobi Barbara, zna što želi, i toga će se dočepati, bilo na ispravan, bilo na...
Dakle, Barbara odrasta uz Mary i gospođicu Annu Brigmore. Brigie, poučava, svakodnevno, djecu novog vlasnika Halla - Johna, Dana i Katie Bensham. U dobrim je odnosima sa Constance preko na farmi, a voli i njenog sina Michaela, dok ga Barbara naprosto obožava, ali mu ujedno i zagorčava život, na neki način.
Michael ne zna čiji je, a ne zna ni ona. Nadajmo se da neće tako brzo saznati tajnu duboko zakopanu u njihovoj obitelji, ona bi mogla biti razorna. Ili? Uslijed predstojećih događaja, koji će za sve biti pogubni, nadajmo se da se znamen neće tako brzo ukazati. Zašto? Ugh, sami se dočepajte istine!
Izvrsna!
#osvrt #preporuka #nedaća #samoća #tuga #razorenje #obrazovanje #čitanje #znamen #books #bookstagram

[Paula Galvan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel is set in northern England in the mid-1800s and revolves around the intertwined lives of the upper class and their servants. Harry Bensham and his wife Matilda, who were once impoverished, became wealthy and acquired a large estate called High Banks Hall, where they employed a significant staff to manage the household. Miss Anna Brigmore (Brigie) was a long-time employee hired to educate their three children. She, along with her adopted daughter Barbara, who has hearing loss, are considered more like family than hired help. The story incorporates themes of parentage and illegitimacy. The prevalence of rape by "the lords" and resulting illegitimate children, which are common and accepted, is similar to the author's other books based on this period. The owners of nearby Wolfbur Farm, who are friends or relatives, are closely involved in the storyline. However, it takes most of the book to unravel the connections, likely because this book is the second in a trilogy, which I wasn't aware of initially. Despite the somewhat depressing plot, the colorful (and sometimes humorous) characters infuse the tale with a heartwarming quality, making this one of my favorite stories by Catherine Cookson.

[Paul Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd instalment of the MALLEN TRILOGY. This book moves on a few years from the last one. The two babies born at the end Michael and Barbara have now grown up. Michael lives with his mother and grandmother on a farm whereas Barbara lives with Brigie her mother’s teacher and her maid companion Mary. Barbara is profoundly deaf and a troubled soul, who in a fearful rage badly injured another girl. After she is struck by the father of the other girl her hearing returns. She runs away and is eventually found close to death in an abandoned mine. Her mind in turmoil and with no one to turn to only Brigie she marries a man she does not love just to get away from everyone. This is a good read and a typical kind of Catherine Cookson novel with romance intrigue and family fallouts.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked this less than the 1st one - I found Barbara annoying, self indulgent and willful, Bridgie for indulging her; and I guess many of the other characters for being so flawed. I liked Harry Bensham best!
Reading the 3rd book so I can put this trilogy to bed.

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt rather disconnected all the way through. Not once did I really empathize with, or feel any resonation with, a character.

[Cheryll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic characters, great story, now on to The Mallen Litter :)

[Gail Marchant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book about the Mallen Family

[Marina Grgić · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dissaster.

[Susan Ludwig]

DNF at 50%

[Lynn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

SYNOPSIS:
Even as a child Barbara was beautiful, but as her beauty grew, so did the affliction which shadowed it—she was becoming more and more deaf. Yet living in her silent world, she was proected from the knowledge which might otherwise have destroyed her—the secret of her own origins.

A great sequel to The Mallens. Dare I say even better than the first book in this wonderful Trilogy!

Barbara is a complex character not always easy to like and her rejection of her beloved governess was unforgiveable. A portent of things to come - infidelity, deceit and tragedy. Although there appears to be hope for Barbara in Daniel's love in this book. A love it will turn out in Book 3 that she does not deserve.
The more times you read this series the better it gets and you realise how good a writer Catherine Cookson was both for her accuracy of social history of the times she writes about and her evocative, descriptive writing and of course of the depth of character development of each of her book creations.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just say, it has been a long time since i read this , but Catherine Cookson was a prolific writer and almost every thing she wrote is good, i just leave it there as i do not have the strength to review as mmany of her books as i have read. the stories just came to her.her last one she wrote speaking into a dictophone with the help of her husband, as she had to get the story out, shortly before her death.I Cannot remember name but i amsure it is searchable.

[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.

[Sandy Menke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Barbara has a deadly attraction to Michael and wants to marry him. She hates another young girl that Michael often pays much attention to. Barbara's hatred for Sarah places Sarah in dire danger. Barbara manages to alienate many, many people in her life, despite the compassion that was given her for her deafness. Several lifes touched in different ways.

[Taffey Champion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel had some surprises within. I knew that the Author referred to a revenge being enacted by this Mallen girl, but I was horrified when I read just what form the revenge took. However, I do believe the character was in the throes of temporary insanity when she enacted her revenge. Quite an excellent writer, Ms. Cookson is.

[Susan · Rating 4 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!

[Jessica Laitinen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the character Barbara because of her wildness and passion. It held my attention because it kept me waiting for her to find true happiness. The ending was disappointing for me. I would like to read the rest of the series

[Kathy Barter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two of a series of three

This is book two in a family saga. I plan on reading the authors next book, The Mallen Litter. I have read Catherine Cookson novels before when I was younger and enjoyed them immensely. I want to read all of her books over again.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this book at first. Barbara was such a spoiled brat that it really made me sick. However I stayed with it and at the end it really turned into a nice book. Grant it not great but good.

[Sheila Lofthouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the trilogy, very enjoyable and easy to read.

[Helen Windle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having been written in 1974 it is an old fashioned romance story set in olden times - interesting but not compelling this day and age.

[Jennifer Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two in the Mallen series was also good. I really enjoyed the ending but it looks like things start to go wrong again for everyone in book three. On to it to see how it ends.

[Janet Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping read at the time.

[Nicole O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this years ago and enjoyed it.