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The Northern Light
Henry Page, owner of The Northern Light, the oldest and most respected newspaper in Tynecastle, is offered a vast sum to turn over control to a mass-circulation group based in London. He refuses – despite entreaties by his wife to accept – and so begins his fight with the Chronicle, an almost defunct newspaper in the same area which is given new life by London-thinking and London men.
Against Henry Page, a journalist who believes in honest presentation of news without bringing in sensationalism, the Chronicle pulls every dirty trick in the trade. And Henry, brought eventually almost to his knees, stoically holds on to his principles and The Northern Light. It is only when he has won the battle that tragedy robs him of the most important thing in his life.
In the magnificent narrative tradition of The Citadel, The Stars Look Down and Cronin’s other classic novels, The Northern Light is a great book by a much-loved author.
Against Henry Page, a journalist who believes in honest presentation of news without bringing in sensationalism, the Chronicle pulls every dirty trick in the trade. And Henry, brought eventually almost to his knees, stoically holds on to his principles and The Northern Light. It is only when he has won the battle that tragedy robs him of the most important thing in his life.
In the magnificent narrative tradition of The Citadel, The Stars Look Down and Cronin’s other classic novels, The Northern Light is a great book by a much-loved author.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1958
15 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Cronin
219 books493 followersArchibald Joseph Cronin was a Scottish novelist, dramatist, and non-fiction writer who was one of the most renowned storytellers of the twentieth century. His best-known works are The Citadel and The Keys of the Kingdom, both of which were made into Oscar-nominated films. He also created the Dr. Finlay character, the hero of a series of stories that served as the basis for the long-running BBC television and radio series entitled Dr. Finlay's Casebook.
-Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.J._Cronin
-Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.J._Cronin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 17, 2017
This is one of the worst books I have ever read.
A J Cronin was a well established mid-20th century British author best known for The Citadel and The Keys to the Kingdom and while on a fruitless search for those I happened across a copy of The Northern Light and decided to give that a go.
There are two major problems with the novel. One is that Cronin decides that 'tell, don't show' is a good rule to apply to writing fiction and secondly he thinks that an author can never stuff too many possibilities into a simple story of 221 printed pages. As a result this novel has all the elegance of a shrink wrapped bag of spanners.
The basic story is that our hero, Henry Page, is the editor & proprietor of The Northern Light, a newspaper serving one of the larger towns in the North-east of England (fictitious names are used for places) in 1956, in the search for ever-increasing readership a national newspaper chain attempts to run him out of business over a two-year period, but ultimately fails.
This is a short book but rather than concentrate on one aspect of a story like this Cronin decides to juggles with as many as possible therefore there is tension between Page and his son as both are in love with Page's daughter-in-law, there are financial pressures as Page runs out of money and can't get credit, there is a difficult relationship with his wife and with his daughter, there are problems in the news room as his own people miss out on a major scoop - the proposed construction of a nuclear power station to the rival newspaper, there are printing problems, there is a paper shortage, there are further news room problems as a reporter is poached by the rival paper who also bring in star reporter Tina Tingle (seriously) to write 'feminist' articles on topics such as the pains of childbirth (I'll give Cronin the benefit of the doubt here and assume that he was using feminist as a synonym for women's interest issues - the book was published in 1958 after all).
Any one or two of those could have served as the dramatic focus of the story. Instead Cronin decides to use all of them. As a result they tend to get picked up and run with for a while and then forgotten. Tina Tingle for example is introduced, described (Tyrolean hat, tweeds, brogues), we get some coverage of her stories and her agony aunt column, then she is forgotten for the rest of the book. Ditto the nuclear power station.
You might think that the proposition to build a nuclear power station near to a town might be a burning campaigning issue that could divide a town and serve as a metaphor for attitudes towards ideas of progress or tradition. Here it gets a mention early on then is forgotten until the last couple of pages. What a waste.
Despite this there were a couple of good sentences in the book. One was the description of the breakdown and depression that the son suffered from (after his return from the war), this had a sharpness and poignancy oddly lacking from the rest of the book. The other winner was the brief description of one of the baddies standing at the mirror in his shabby, greying underwear, running an electric razor over his face. It was a good, terse half sentence with a nice down at heel feel.
But in between them come the health problems of the hero, his visit to black market paper wholesalers in Manchester and the abortion of his daughter-in-law (the scandal of which eventually brings down the hero). Apparently if a woman has an abortion, then years later marries your son, this proves that you don't have the character to run a newspaper and to have been twice mayor of a town.
Anyhow. That was 1958. When English upper lips were resolutely stiff, like duck beaks.
This is the kind of book that inspires people to become writers. As they toss the slim paperback aside the thought can not help but go through their minds that they can write at least a slightly better piece of tosh than this. In the interests of the reading public I will however insist that if you are going to write your own novel please avoid the awkward combination of omniscient narrator and point of view approach and please restrict yourself and clamp down on your imagination. One to two ideas well executed are better than two dozen that get six hundred words each in a two hundred page novel.
The problem with the book and the reason why it irritated me so much is not because Cronin was a bad writer but because he was lazy. The want of a challenging editor is apparent in his over indulgence in ideas, unwillingness to develop seeds already planted in the story and easy satisfaction in unnecessary plot twists like the ploy of the bad guys to buy the freehold of his printing works to make life difficult for the editor for about five pages that is resolved in a ridiculous moustache twirling curses! Foiled again! manner. This is a book that calls to your inner School teacher to pick up the red pen to scrawl "could do better, see me" at the bottom of each page.
A J Cronin was a well established mid-20th century British author best known for The Citadel and The Keys to the Kingdom and while on a fruitless search for those I happened across a copy of The Northern Light and decided to give that a go.
There are two major problems with the novel. One is that Cronin decides that 'tell, don't show' is a good rule to apply to writing fiction and secondly he thinks that an author can never stuff too many possibilities into a simple story of 221 printed pages. As a result this novel has all the elegance of a shrink wrapped bag of spanners.
The basic story is that our hero, Henry Page, is the editor & proprietor of The Northern Light, a newspaper serving one of the larger towns in the North-east of England (fictitious names are used for places) in 1956, in the search for ever-increasing readership a national newspaper chain attempts to run him out of business over a two-year period, but ultimately fails.
This is a short book but rather than concentrate on one aspect of a story like this Cronin decides to juggles with as many as possible therefore there is tension between Page and his son as both are in love with Page's daughter-in-law, there are financial pressures as Page runs out of money and can't get credit, there is a difficult relationship with his wife and with his daughter, there are problems in the news room as his own people miss out on a major scoop - the proposed construction of a nuclear power station to the rival newspaper, there are printing problems, there is a paper shortage, there are further news room problems as a reporter is poached by the rival paper who also bring in star reporter Tina Tingle (seriously) to write 'feminist' articles on topics such as the pains of childbirth (I'll give Cronin the benefit of the doubt here and assume that he was using feminist as a synonym for women's interest issues - the book was published in 1958 after all).
Any one or two of those could have served as the dramatic focus of the story. Instead Cronin decides to use all of them. As a result they tend to get picked up and run with for a while and then forgotten. Tina Tingle for example is introduced, described (Tyrolean hat, tweeds, brogues), we get some coverage of her stories and her agony aunt column, then she is forgotten for the rest of the book. Ditto the nuclear power station.
You might think that the proposition to build a nuclear power station near to a town might be a burning campaigning issue that could divide a town and serve as a metaphor for attitudes towards ideas of progress or tradition. Here it gets a mention early on then is forgotten until the last couple of pages. What a waste.
Despite this there were a couple of good sentences in the book. One was the description of the breakdown and depression that the son suffered from (after his return from the war), this had a sharpness and poignancy oddly lacking from the rest of the book. The other winner was the brief description of one of the baddies standing at the mirror in his shabby, greying underwear, running an electric razor over his face. It was a good, terse half sentence with a nice down at heel feel.
But in between them come the health problems of the hero, his visit to black market paper wholesalers in Manchester and the abortion of his daughter-in-law (the scandal of which eventually brings down the hero). Apparently if a woman has an abortion, then years later marries your son, this proves that you don't have the character to run a newspaper and to have been twice mayor of a town.
Anyhow. That was 1958. When English upper lips were resolutely stiff, like duck beaks.
This is the kind of book that inspires people to become writers. As they toss the slim paperback aside the thought can not help but go through their minds that they can write at least a slightly better piece of tosh than this. In the interests of the reading public I will however insist that if you are going to write your own novel please avoid the awkward combination of omniscient narrator and point of view approach and please restrict yourself and clamp down on your imagination. One to two ideas well executed are better than two dozen that get six hundred words each in a two hundred page novel.
The problem with the book and the reason why it irritated me so much is not because Cronin was a bad writer but because he was lazy. The want of a challenging editor is apparent in his over indulgence in ideas, unwillingness to develop seeds already planted in the story and easy satisfaction in unnecessary plot twists like the ploy of the bad guys to buy the freehold of his printing works to make life difficult for the editor for about five pages that is resolved in a ridiculous moustache twirling curses! Foiled again! manner. This is a book that calls to your inner School teacher to pick up the red pen to scrawl "could do better, see me" at the bottom of each page.
June 28, 2020
Found this an interesting story - sounded a bit medieval ( typesetting ... !!).
Henry Page’s family newspaper Northern Light is a trusted old paper in Hedleston. It becomes an acquisition target by media groups which want in on new buzz demand.
The story is well written in his efforts to hold on to his values while saving the newspaper from their clutches.
Old style charm and type of writing. A short 2-3 hour read almost like a thriller.
Henry Page’s family newspaper Northern Light is a trusted old paper in Hedleston. It becomes an acquisition target by media groups which want in on new buzz demand.
The story is well written in his efforts to hold on to his values while saving the newspaper from their clutches.
Old style charm and type of writing. A short 2-3 hour read almost like a thriller.
February 12, 2026
Sometimes, you can even smell the male fantasy in some books, and I truly could at the start of The Northern Light. It wasn't like the book was bad; it was well structured, it was fluid, and the author had a surgical but very interesting way with the words, but in general, I think the only interesting thing about the book is the author's skills. Even with all the bravado, I couldn't empathize with the main character, Mr. Page. I could understand his motives, but every other character that was in his orbit was much more interesting than he was; his wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, son, antagonist, you name it, was much more interesting than he. But even at this point, I think it is a triumph of the author, especially in his relationship with his daughter in law Cora, even his own creator knew that from distant eyes, some of his actions towards her could be seen as malicious, and he shows how this affects his reputation; it was genius.
In general, an ok book, nothing more, nothing less.
In general, an ok book, nothing more, nothing less.
November 9, 2016
Henry Page is the editor of a small town newspaper. Henry’s own father, grandfather, and great-grandfather also managed this local newspaper; it is his heritage and he feels strongly the need to preserve the traditions of the past.
“This was Henry’s passion, his religion, if you like, his obsession: the England that was, and must one day be again. With quiet sincerity he loved his country, the texture of its earth, the very salt of the sea that washed it. He was not blind to the deterioration which, since the war, had changed the structure of the national life.”
Not pretentious or proud in the least, Henry is a man with simple tastes:
“He liked his garden, and grew rather fine pelargoniums in his little greenhouse; poking around for bits of the old Stafford china he collected was another mild diversion; and he took immense pleasure in arranging the autumn orchestral concerts he had introduced to Hedleston and which were now an annual feature of the town...”
However, Henry's quiet life is about to change. Henry refuses a purchase offer from a large sensationalist news conglomerate, and his refusal results in a series of attacks designed to force closure of the paper.
Henry is not a particularly strong personality and yet when all he holds dear is threatened, he finds the ability to dig in and come up with creative solutions to keep going. As the attacks against the paper become more frequent and more intense, Henry holds his ground and perseveres against all odds.
“How could any man let himself be coerced and bullied out of his rights? I couldn’t submit to it then. And I can’t give up now. Even if I am beaten, though I still feel I won’t be, I must go on to the end.”
“The Northern Light” is a fast-paced book that I found hard to put down. After I read it (and read some reviews), I could understand why some stated that they had also read it within one day.
I enjoyed the characters Cronin created; Henry’s less-than-sympathetic wife Alice, his sensitive nervy son David and wife Cora. One cannot help but sympathise with Henry as he not only navigates the difficulties of a threatened livelihood but also an unhappy home life and a shallow marriage:
“...she put aside aside the crossword and took up her needlepoint. Presently, between stitches, she began an account of the afternoon party she had attended, describing those present, the dresses, the hats, gloves and varying hairdos, and epic to which,through long experience, Page was able to close his ears while giving the appearance of a sympathetic auditor.”
I loved this book until I came to the ending. However if nothing else, it portrays the consequence of choice. Leonard Nye, the ‘villain’ in the story, is just as stubborn as Henry; just as determined to win, and his unscrupulous methods have their tragic result. The importance of the press and the effects that sensationalist literature on humanity is also illustrated.
I enjoyed this synopsis of the author that I came across in one review:
'Cronin’s stories continually grapple with the idealistic integration of religious faith and the world of modern science and medicine. His protagonists enter a world that is often antagonistic to their faith, and where the division between different religions is sometimes acute. These protagonists aim to better the world they live in and to serve their fellow human beings with honor and dignity'.
AJ Cronin was a medical officer-turned-author. After his publishing success (more than seven million copies of his books sold in the United States alone), he had this to say:
''I think there are very few giants. All the good writers are being swept away in a melancholic, oppressive and depressive philosophy. They don't seem to have the stimulation of - I won't say the Christian ethic - but they seem to have no light to guide them.''
I wonder what he would say about literature today?
“This was Henry’s passion, his religion, if you like, his obsession: the England that was, and must one day be again. With quiet sincerity he loved his country, the texture of its earth, the very salt of the sea that washed it. He was not blind to the deterioration which, since the war, had changed the structure of the national life.”
Not pretentious or proud in the least, Henry is a man with simple tastes:
“He liked his garden, and grew rather fine pelargoniums in his little greenhouse; poking around for bits of the old Stafford china he collected was another mild diversion; and he took immense pleasure in arranging the autumn orchestral concerts he had introduced to Hedleston and which were now an annual feature of the town...”
However, Henry's quiet life is about to change. Henry refuses a purchase offer from a large sensationalist news conglomerate, and his refusal results in a series of attacks designed to force closure of the paper.
Henry is not a particularly strong personality and yet when all he holds dear is threatened, he finds the ability to dig in and come up with creative solutions to keep going. As the attacks against the paper become more frequent and more intense, Henry holds his ground and perseveres against all odds.
“How could any man let himself be coerced and bullied out of his rights? I couldn’t submit to it then. And I can’t give up now. Even if I am beaten, though I still feel I won’t be, I must go on to the end.”
“The Northern Light” is a fast-paced book that I found hard to put down. After I read it (and read some reviews), I could understand why some stated that they had also read it within one day.
I enjoyed the characters Cronin created; Henry’s less-than-sympathetic wife Alice, his sensitive nervy son David and wife Cora. One cannot help but sympathise with Henry as he not only navigates the difficulties of a threatened livelihood but also an unhappy home life and a shallow marriage:
“...she put aside aside the crossword and took up her needlepoint. Presently, between stitches, she began an account of the afternoon party she had attended, describing those present, the dresses, the hats, gloves and varying hairdos, and epic to which,through long experience, Page was able to close his ears while giving the appearance of a sympathetic auditor.”
I loved this book until I came to the ending. However if nothing else, it portrays the consequence of choice. Leonard Nye, the ‘villain’ in the story, is just as stubborn as Henry; just as determined to win, and his unscrupulous methods have their tragic result. The importance of the press and the effects that sensationalist literature on humanity is also illustrated.
I enjoyed this synopsis of the author that I came across in one review:
'Cronin’s stories continually grapple with the idealistic integration of religious faith and the world of modern science and medicine. His protagonists enter a world that is often antagonistic to their faith, and where the division between different religions is sometimes acute. These protagonists aim to better the world they live in and to serve their fellow human beings with honor and dignity'.
AJ Cronin was a medical officer-turned-author. After his publishing success (more than seven million copies of his books sold in the United States alone), he had this to say:
''I think there are very few giants. All the good writers are being swept away in a melancholic, oppressive and depressive philosophy. They don't seem to have the stimulation of - I won't say the Christian ethic - but they seem to have no light to guide them.''
I wonder what he would say about literature today?
September 6, 2015
Да бъдеш или не – винаги в това е въпросът. Каква цена си готов да платиш, ако избереш който и да е от двата отговор?
Кронин е мрачен автор – все още си спомням в подробности развръзката в „Цитаделата”, песимизмът и депресията в „Дървото на Юда” и „Замъкът на шапкаря” (която така и не дочетох). Но въпреки това „Северна светлина” е вдъхновяваща книга. Щастливият край не се е получил съвсем, но Кронин си е позволил малко оптимизъм по отношение на човешката природа. За наше съжаление обаче, от дистанцията на изминалите години, най-лошите му опасения за журналистиката и за обществото са се сбъднали.
„....А колкото до нашия занаят, познавам го във всичките му тънкости. Дяволски бизнес, като всеки друг, който преследва главно две цели: пари и власт. За да ги постигнеш, трябва ти тираж. За да постигнеш тираж, трябва да даваш на читателите, каквото те искат. А какво искат те... поне по-голямата част от тях? Искат сочни историйки – порнография, скандали, сензация...”
Днес, след 50 години от времето на действие на романа, ние живеем в пророчеството на Кронин:
„... Още петдесет години по този този път, с вашите заразни миазми, и вие ще сведете масите буквално до състояние на пълно невежество.”
Героите са черни и бели, разпознаваме добрите и лошите в момента, в който ни се представят. На тези, които не са особено важни за действието и развръзката, е позволен�� да бъдат по-човечни – със силни и слаби страни, с пороци и добродетели. Но битката не е между двама души, а между две идеи, затова и двамата носители на тези идеи са едностранчиви. Това в никой случай не ме подразни, защото за мен тази битка също е черно-бяла. Не допускам нюанси, когато се отнася до манипулативната власт на медиите.
От къде тогава идва оптимизмът? От вярата в добрината на хората. Каквото и да става, каквито и доказателства да има за противното, и аз като Кронин искам да вярвам в тази добрина. Как иначе да живеем без това?
Кронин е мрачен автор – все още си спомням в подробности развръзката в „Цитаделата”, песимизмът и депресията в „Дървото на Юда” и „Замъкът на шапкаря” (която така и не дочетох). Но въпреки това „Северна светлина” е вдъхновяваща книга. Щастливият край не се е получил съвсем, но Кронин си е позволил малко оптимизъм по отношение на човешката природа. За наше съжаление обаче, от дистанцията на изминалите години, най-лошите му опасения за журналистиката и за обществото са се сбъднали.
„....А колкото до нашия занаят, познавам го във всичките му тънкости. Дяволски бизнес, като всеки друг, който преследва главно две цели: пари и власт. За да ги постигнеш, трябва ти тираж. За да постигнеш тираж, трябва да даваш на читателите, каквото те искат. А какво искат те... поне по-голямата част от тях? Искат сочни историйки – порнография, скандали, сензация...”
Днес, след 50 години от времето на действие на романа, ние живеем в пророчеството на Кронин:
„... Още петдесет години по този този път, с вашите заразни миазми, и вие ще сведете масите буквално до състояние на пълно невежество.”
Героите са черни и бели, разпознаваме добрите и лошите в момента, в който ни се представят. На тези, които не са особено важни за действието и развръзката, е позволен�� да бъдат по-човечни – със силни и слаби страни, с пороци и добродетели. Но битката не е между двама души, а между две идеи, затова и двамата носители на тези идеи са едностранчиви. Това в никой случай не ме подразни, защото за мен тази битка също е черно-бяла. Не допускам нюанси, когато се отнася до манипулативната власт на медиите.
От къде тогава идва оптимизмът? От вярата в добрината на хората. Каквото и да става, каквито и доказателства да има за противното, и аз като Кронин искам да вярвам в тази добрина. Как иначе да живеем без това?
May 6, 2015
I loved A. J. Cronin's work on "The Keys of the Kingdom" exceedingly; in fact, it's one of my favourite novels, filled with strength of Christian faith, forgiveness and love, human drama and great courage. "The Green Years", also - which I only saw as a Black-And-White movie - had a beautiful, charming, gentle tone to it which I totally loved. Highly recommend those two books and their adaptions into film!
I watched two other films for A. J. Cronin "The Stars Look Down" and "The Hatter's Castle" which were on the far more depressing, grim and tragic side - while they had important themes and vividly interesting characters, the plots ended with very little hope or faith - only a reminder of the curse of sin and how it destroys lives in a muddy whirlpool of horror, more pain and grief. "The wages of sin is death. . . " is something that echoes sadly in those two books.
But aside from his captivating writing-prose, and his vivid way of capturing descriptions of people and emotions, what I love best about Cronin's works is the theme that seems to echo in most of his major works: the story of a dedicated man who struggles against great odds to maintain his integrity and his chosen cause. In The Keys of the Kingdom, it was a priest, in The Citadel a physician, in The Green Years a medical student.
In this book, the hero is the editor and owner of a provincial newspaper who is fighting for his paper, his family, and his community against ruthless monopoly that would undo his life's work. Cronin, while missing out on the hope and virtues of "The Keys of the Kingdom", caught something of a powerful message in his book "The Northern Light". It's about the press, the media and its exploitation of people's lives. Quite chillingly, Cronin shows us what a thirst for sensationalism does to destroy people's lives. It's not a Christian novel, though Cronin was a Catholic and some of his other novels have strong Christian themes. This novel basically takes you on the terrible battle Henry Page is pulled into, along with his family, and especially his son David and daughter-in-law Cora; there is tragedy and grief - it doesn't make for a happy tale. But the story had a message that rang sadly true of our culture's thirst for crime and sensationalism, and how the media feeds us that. Cronin knew how to write a captivating, page-turner, filled with melodrama and lots of character struggles. I read "The Northern Light" in a day!
I wish the story had more of a happier ending - but I understand why it didn't. I liked Henry Page, his struggle to keep his newspaper afloat, etc. That stiff upper lip of an Englishman in the 1950s fits his character wonderfully, and I admired his staunchness, his patient silence and faithfulness in "never-giving-up". I didn't particularly care for the tensions within his own home, but I deeply pitied vulnerable and lovely Cora and her war-scarred husband David. I wanted it to work out for them. *mild spoiler* I wanted the happy ending for them :'( *end of spoiler* It was very fascinating as well, to take a in-depth look at the world of the media, journalists, etc. I liked reading from the perspective of the antagonists, the editor and the manager of the Chronicle newspaper Mr Smith, and Leonard Nyll - if only because it kept the suspense of the novel at a high-pitch! . . they were horrible, captivating, and totally repulsive.
There is some reference in dialogue to some news-scandals, and a plot element of the story involves an unhappy crime involving an affair as well as an abortion - it's not explicit however. It is seen in a unhappy light, and the author depicts the shame of such things. Just a word of caution, that it's definitely an adult book and not for younger readers.
I am glad I read this book, for its reflection on the media, the enjoyment of reading a story with interesting characters and a well-written plot; plus I highly enjoyed the little tid-bits we get of the Post-War era of England. It's subtle, but it added a distinctive flavour to the story. "The Northern Light" isn't my favourite for Cronin, however. If you are new to his works, I highly recommend you start off with "The Keys of the Kingdom". . .
I watched two other films for A. J. Cronin "The Stars Look Down" and "The Hatter's Castle" which were on the far more depressing, grim and tragic side - while they had important themes and vividly interesting characters, the plots ended with very little hope or faith - only a reminder of the curse of sin and how it destroys lives in a muddy whirlpool of horror, more pain and grief. "The wages of sin is death. . . " is something that echoes sadly in those two books.
But aside from his captivating writing-prose, and his vivid way of capturing descriptions of people and emotions, what I love best about Cronin's works is the theme that seems to echo in most of his major works: the story of a dedicated man who struggles against great odds to maintain his integrity and his chosen cause. In The Keys of the Kingdom, it was a priest, in The Citadel a physician, in The Green Years a medical student.
In this book, the hero is the editor and owner of a provincial newspaper who is fighting for his paper, his family, and his community against ruthless monopoly that would undo his life's work. Cronin, while missing out on the hope and virtues of "The Keys of the Kingdom", caught something of a powerful message in his book "The Northern Light". It's about the press, the media and its exploitation of people's lives. Quite chillingly, Cronin shows us what a thirst for sensationalism does to destroy people's lives. It's not a Christian novel, though Cronin was a Catholic and some of his other novels have strong Christian themes. This novel basically takes you on the terrible battle Henry Page is pulled into, along with his family, and especially his son David and daughter-in-law Cora; there is tragedy and grief - it doesn't make for a happy tale. But the story had a message that rang sadly true of our culture's thirst for crime and sensationalism, and how the media feeds us that. Cronin knew how to write a captivating, page-turner, filled with melodrama and lots of character struggles. I read "The Northern Light" in a day!
I wish the story had more of a happier ending - but I understand why it didn't. I liked Henry Page, his struggle to keep his newspaper afloat, etc. That stiff upper lip of an Englishman in the 1950s fits his character wonderfully, and I admired his staunchness, his patient silence and faithfulness in "never-giving-up". I didn't particularly care for the tensions within his own home, but I deeply pitied vulnerable and lovely Cora and her war-scarred husband David. I wanted it to work out for them. *mild spoiler* I wanted the happy ending for them :'( *end of spoiler* It was very fascinating as well, to take a in-depth look at the world of the media, journalists, etc. I liked reading from the perspective of the antagonists, the editor and the manager of the Chronicle newspaper Mr Smith, and Leonard Nyll - if only because it kept the suspense of the novel at a high-pitch! . . they were horrible, captivating, and totally repulsive.
There is some reference in dialogue to some news-scandals, and a plot element of the story involves an unhappy crime involving an affair as well as an abortion - it's not explicit however. It is seen in a unhappy light, and the author depicts the shame of such things. Just a word of caution, that it's definitely an adult book and not for younger readers.
I am glad I read this book, for its reflection on the media, the enjoyment of reading a story with interesting characters and a well-written plot; plus I highly enjoyed the little tid-bits we get of the Post-War era of England. It's subtle, but it added a distinctive flavour to the story. "The Northern Light" isn't my favourite for Cronin, however. If you are new to his works, I highly recommend you start off with "The Keys of the Kingdom". . .
June 6, 2022
I think I only have one Cronin left that I haven't read ( The minstrel boy). I saved this one til now because i thought it might be a bit boring, being about a newspaper. I should have known better than that.
Henry Page (gotta love it) is the last in a long line of ancestors running "The Northern Light". It's a newspaper based on old principles, "news worth knowing", to inform and edify. No dishrag, this. But the world is a changing place. Newspapers are changing their tack. News to tittilate, rather than inform. Scandal, smut and sordidness (tabloids here we come) are now the order of the day.
Can Henry Page hold onto "The Northern Light" as well as it's reputation when progress comes banging down the door?
The novel isn't only about the newspaper. It's about people. Henry, his wife Alice, (who he has lost touch with); his grown children, Dorothy and David. Henry has been counting on David to keep the paper going for posterity but David has come back from the war with issues. PTSD, nervous breakdown, paranoia and depression. He marries an uneducated but good woman, Cora, whose own past allows her to commiserate with his own. But all is not a rose garden and her past will not stay sleeping whilever there's reporters digging up dirt...
Another very good read
Henry Page (gotta love it) is the last in a long line of ancestors running "The Northern Light". It's a newspaper based on old principles, "news worth knowing", to inform and edify. No dishrag, this. But the world is a changing place. Newspapers are changing their tack. News to tittilate, rather than inform. Scandal, smut and sordidness (tabloids here we come) are now the order of the day.
Can Henry Page hold onto "The Northern Light" as well as it's reputation when progress comes banging down the door?
The novel isn't only about the newspaper. It's about people. Henry, his wife Alice, (who he has lost touch with); his grown children, Dorothy and David. Henry has been counting on David to keep the paper going for posterity but David has come back from the war with issues. PTSD, nervous breakdown, paranoia and depression. He marries an uneducated but good woman, Cora, whose own past allows her to commiserate with his own. But all is not a rose garden and her past will not stay sleeping whilever there's reporters digging up dirt...
Another very good read
August 11, 2012
This book could have just been written as the themes are very current. In fact it was written over half a century ago!
Henry Page is the owner of a very successful local newspaper which has been in the family for three generations when suddenly there is interest in buying it. He is adamant that it isn't for sale and so a war starts when the opposition buy another local paper in an effort to close him down. Will people buy the slightly staid paper which they are used to which won't print scandal and gossip or will they go for the new paper which seems to have no such scruples. In the end only one can win but not without cost to all concerned.
Henry Page is the owner of a very successful local newspaper which has been in the family for three generations when suddenly there is interest in buying it. He is adamant that it isn't for sale and so a war starts when the opposition buy another local paper in an effort to close him down. Will people buy the slightly staid paper which they are used to which won't print scandal and gossip or will they go for the new paper which seems to have no such scruples. In the end only one can win but not without cost to all concerned.
September 27, 2017
Varbūt ne tas labākais no Kronina, bet pietiekoši labs, lai izlasītu. Šis nebūs aizraujošs trilleris ar pakaļdzīšanos, ar šaušanu, šeit nebūs elpu aizraujoši skati. Grāmatas sišets par nelielu Anglijas pilsētiņu, kur jau sint gadu pastāvējušai vietējai avīzei uzrodas konkurents lielas avīzes veidolā, kurš grib aprīt vai iznīcināt vietējo avīzi. Sižeta gaitā notiek sīva cīņa par izdzīvošanu ( avīžu) izmantojot legālus un nelegālus līdzekļus. Var novērot dzeltenās preses veidošanos un pavērot no malas, kas lasītājiem patīk, ko tie izvēlas.
Taču tipogrāfiju cīņas ir tikai fons , lai izgaismotu vietējo cilvēku raksturu, emocijas un pārdzīvojumus. Tēli ir pārliecinoši un pat ļoti ticami.
Arī šajā darbā redzams Kronina stāstnieka talants un ticamības moments romānam saglabājas līdz pat gandrīz laimīgām beigām.
Citāti:
Jā, noteikti, vecie draugi ir vislabākie, bet ne tad, kad tie jūs izputina un apmāna.
Pacients tu esi slikts, bet vispār - jauks puisis.
Taču tipogrāfiju cīņas ir tikai fons , lai izgaismotu vietējo cilvēku raksturu, emocijas un pārdzīvojumus. Tēli ir pārliecinoši un pat ļoti ticami.
Arī šajā darbā redzams Kronina stāstnieka talants un ticamības moments romānam saglabājas līdz pat gandrīz laimīgām beigām.
Citāti:
Jā, noteikti, vecie draugi ir vislabākie, bet ne tad, kad tie jūs izputina un apmāna.
Pacients tu esi slikts, bet vispār - jauks puisis.
Want to read
September 27, 2023Standalones:
*The Keys of the Kingdom 5 stars
*The Stars Look Down 5 stars
*A Thing of Beauty 4 stars
*The Citadel 4 stars
*Adventures in Two Worlds 4 srats
(autobiography)
*The Judas Tree 4 stars
*The Spanish Gardener 4 stars
*Hatter's Castle 4 stars
*Beyond This Place TBR
*Three Loves  TBR
*The Northern Light TBR
*Vigil in the NightTBR
*Grand Canary TBR
Duologies:
1,The Green Years 5 stars
2.Shannon's Way 3 stars
--------------------
1.A Song of Sixpence 5 stars
2.A Pocketful of Rye 3 stars
*The Keys of the Kingdom 5 stars
*The Stars Look Down 5 stars
*A Thing of Beauty 4 stars
*The Citadel 4 stars
*Adventures in Two Worlds 4 srats
(autobiography)
*The Judas Tree 4 stars
*The Spanish Gardener 4 stars
*Hatter's Castle 4 stars
*Beyond This Place TBR
*Three Loves  TBR
*The Northern Light TBR
*Vigil in the NightTBR
*Grand Canary TBR
Duologies:
1,The Green Years 5 stars
2.Shannon's Way 3 stars
--------------------
1.A Song of Sixpence 5 stars
2.A Pocketful of Rye 3 stars
December 21, 2020
The third book that I've read,honestly,didn't leave much impression on me.Surely,it's themes (about undeniable truth and exaggerated sensationalism,achieving the goal by any means necessary,feel of guilt) are interesting,but the plot drags.Family and marriage relationships are well presented,through the different perspective of it's characters,which can lead to misunderstanding,which is the reason why people should seat,listen,talk and understand one another.If that wasn't the case,every news would by put out of context,with unimaginable consequences.This work serves as a presentation of today's market,where we must ask ourselves what is more important for us: to be ruthless and destroy the competition or to give our best to present our ideas,products,information and services to the ones that matters,and that are everyday's customers and clients.Although this novel wasn't among his best works (at least for me,personally),I definitely wouldn't discourage anyone to not give it a try.
March 14, 2015
I read this about 40 years ago. And now it still holds up. A good story about a good man up against it. Good does prevail, but at quite a price. It was nice to reread an old friend
Read
February 27, 2016I see myself in Henry Page's belief, a stubborn man who stands firm, who values journalism and fights against yellow journalism.
October 21, 2021
Orologiul bisericii St. Mark arăta că trecuse ora opt când, în seara aceea umedă de februarie, Henry Page, urându-i, ca de obicei, noapte bună lui Maitland, director-adjunct la ziarul său, se despărţi de el şi părăsi clădirea ziarului Northern Light[1]. Din pricina editorialului de luni zăbovise mai mult ca în alte dăţi, căci, după o experienţă de douăzeci de ani, nu scria prea uşor, iar neaşteptata convorbire telefonică cu Vernon Somerville îl făcuse să întârzie şi-l tulburase.
În după-amiaza aceea îi lăsase soţiei sale automobilul, aşa că avea de gând să se ducă pe jos acasă; în ultimul timp, doctorul Bard îl tot îndemna ca, fără să se ostenească prea mult, să facă mai multă mişcare, dar, ora fiind înaintată, se hotărî să ia tramvaiul.
Era sâmbătă seară; în Mealmarket ― vechiul centru comercial al Hedlestonului, format dintr-o reţea de alei înguste şi pasaje, dând toate spre scuarul Victoria ― întâlneai lume puţină. Birourile şi tipografia lui Page ocupau aici o parte dintr-un corp de case în stil Adam[2], a căror patină de fum şi intemperii străvechi trăda o obârşie de aproape două veacuri. Lipsit de forfota zilei, vechiul cartier, cu caldarâmurile învăluite la acea oră într-o tăcere atât de neobişnuită, îi părea lui Henry, care îşi putea auzi în urmă ecoul paşilor pe alee, mai mult ca oricând, inima statornică a acestui orăşel regal[3] din Northumberland[4], unde, timp de cinci generaţii, trăise şi muncise familia sa. Instinctiv trase adânc în piept aerul umed şi uşor înţepător.
Tăind prin Dean’s Close, ajunse în strada principală. În staţie nu era coadă. Deşi tramvaiul care mergea în direcţia Wooton era pe jumătate gol, totuşi, din obişnuinţă, căci făcuse asta o viaţă întreagă, Henry numără patru călători care citeau Northern Light. Un meseriaş cu lădiţa de scule la picioare, om la vreo şaizeci de ani, citea editorialul zilei prin ochelari cu rame de metal, ţinând ziarul spre slabul bec electric din colţul vagonului şi mişcându-şi buzele pe măsură ce forma cuvintele. Pierduse, de fapt, meciul de fotbal pentru a lucra suplimentar, şi Henry îşi spuse: „În bătrâni e nădejdea“. Deşi nu-şi făcea iluzii în privinţa stilului său ― fiul său, David, era tentat să zâmbească atunci când îi citea expunerile ― simţea o căldură consolatoare la gândul că reuşea din când în când să-şi apropie şi să influenţeze oamenii simpli din oraş, faţă de care încerca un tulburător simţământ de răspundere.
La Hanley Drive coborî. Vilele din această stradă, construite toate din gresie roşie adusă de la carierele de piatră din Eldon, se deosebeau prea puţin între ele, toate manifestând o slăbiciune pentru frontonul îmbrăcat pe jumătate în lemn. Intrarea casei lui Henry Page era însă urâțită de două felinare de fontă, greoi răsucite laolaltă, cu reliefuri aurite, reprezentând stema oraşului Hedleston, formată din trei lăstuni de argint, pe un scut de azur. Page era un om care se ferea de orice fel de ostentaţie, totuşi, prin faptul că fusese de două ori primar al oraşului, se simţise obligat să se conformeze obiceiului şi să accepte astfel de reminiscenţe îngrozitoare ale anilor cât deţinuse această funcţie.
În după-amiaza aceea îi lăsase soţiei sale automobilul, aşa că avea de gând să se ducă pe jos acasă; în ultimul timp, doctorul Bard îl tot îndemna ca, fără să se ostenească prea mult, să facă mai multă mişcare, dar, ora fiind înaintată, se hotărî să ia tramvaiul.
Era sâmbătă seară; în Mealmarket ― vechiul centru comercial al Hedlestonului, format dintr-o reţea de alei înguste şi pasaje, dând toate spre scuarul Victoria ― întâlneai lume puţină. Birourile şi tipografia lui Page ocupau aici o parte dintr-un corp de case în stil Adam[2], a căror patină de fum şi intemperii străvechi trăda o obârşie de aproape două veacuri. Lipsit de forfota zilei, vechiul cartier, cu caldarâmurile învăluite la acea oră într-o tăcere atât de neobişnuită, îi părea lui Henry, care îşi putea auzi în urmă ecoul paşilor pe alee, mai mult ca oricând, inima statornică a acestui orăşel regal[3] din Northumberland[4], unde, timp de cinci generaţii, trăise şi muncise familia sa. Instinctiv trase adânc în piept aerul umed şi uşor înţepător.
Tăind prin Dean’s Close, ajunse în strada principală. În staţie nu era coadă. Deşi tramvaiul care mergea în direcţia Wooton era pe jumătate gol, totuşi, din obişnuinţă, căci făcuse asta o viaţă întreagă, Henry numără patru călători care citeau Northern Light. Un meseriaş cu lădiţa de scule la picioare, om la vreo şaizeci de ani, citea editorialul zilei prin ochelari cu rame de metal, ţinând ziarul spre slabul bec electric din colţul vagonului şi mişcându-şi buzele pe măsură ce forma cuvintele. Pierduse, de fapt, meciul de fotbal pentru a lucra suplimentar, şi Henry îşi spuse: „În bătrâni e nădejdea“. Deşi nu-şi făcea iluzii în privinţa stilului său ― fiul său, David, era tentat să zâmbească atunci când îi citea expunerile ― simţea o căldură consolatoare la gândul că reuşea din când în când să-şi apropie şi să influenţeze oamenii simpli din oraş, faţă de care încerca un tulburător simţământ de răspundere.
La Hanley Drive coborî. Vilele din această stradă, construite toate din gresie roşie adusă de la carierele de piatră din Eldon, se deosebeau prea puţin între ele, toate manifestând o slăbiciune pentru frontonul îmbrăcat pe jumătate în lemn. Intrarea casei lui Henry Page era însă urâțită de două felinare de fontă, greoi răsucite laolaltă, cu reliefuri aurite, reprezentând stema oraşului Hedleston, formată din trei lăstuni de argint, pe un scut de azur. Page era un om care se ferea de orice fel de ostentaţie, totuşi, prin faptul că fusese de două ori primar al oraşului, se simţise obligat să se conformeze obiceiului şi să accepte astfel de reminiscenţe îngrozitoare ale anilor cât deţinuse această funcţie.
February 22, 2018
Türkçeye Kuzey Işığı olarak çevrilmiş ve sanırım bir tek yayın evinden çıkma bir kitabı okudum. Öncelikle kitap beklediğimden daha iyiydi çünkü bu yayın evinin Serenad Roman Serisi olarak çıkardığı kitaplardan daha önce okuduklarımı pek beğenmemiştim ve bu kitabın da beğenmeyeceğim bir tarzda olması çok olası bir durumdu fakat beklediğim kadar kötü bir kitap da değildi. Özellikle olay örgüsü gayet iyiydi, karakter analizleri iyi denebilecek düzeydeydi ve kitabın "Ne olursa olsun iyi bir insan olmaktan vazgeçme." mesajı çok derinden veriliyordu. Kitabın çevirisini pek beğenmedim, yer yer sanki Türkçeye çevrilmiş bir kitap değil de Türk bir yazar tarafından yazılmış bir kitap okuyormuşum gibi gelmişti. Baş karakter Henry gibi iyi kalpli insanlar acaba hala var mı diye sorgularken buldum kendi kendimi bu kitabı okurken.
June 28, 2024
My second bit of Cronin and I think I see his style and wouldn't mind dipping back in and out again in the future. I find it a curious blend of a deep, dark cynicism about society - and at the same time, an earnest hope that our better nature will continue to govern us.
I don't know what critics or the public thought of Cronin's style or his subjects and for now I'm content to be an armchair philosopher. Was he seen as dowdy for the idealism some of his characters portray? Or did his readers and critics enjoy the grim side of the world he embraced as the tension of his writing?
I'd love to read a thoroughly grim work in the same vein, perhaps as deadening as Chinatown is in comparison with the rest of the thriller genre.
I don't know what critics or the public thought of Cronin's style or his subjects and for now I'm content to be an armchair philosopher. Was he seen as dowdy for the idealism some of his characters portray? Or did his readers and critics enjoy the grim side of the world he embraced as the tension of his writing?
I'd love to read a thoroughly grim work in the same vein, perhaps as deadening as Chinatown is in comparison with the rest of the thriller genre.
July 20, 2018
ჯერ მუსიკა: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff0v5...
ეს წიგნი სახლში მქონდა წლების წინ და გამიკვირდება აქ ვინმემ იცოდეს, ორჰან ფამუქი არაა... ისე უნდა გახაროთ, მალე ორჰან ფამუქი ანიმეს ფორმატში გამოვა (ვინც დაიჯერა არაფერი ეშველება).
წიგნი ეხება ჰენრი პეიჯს და მის გაზეთს The Northern Light, კონკურენციას და 60 წლის უკანდელ ყოფას. დიდი გაზეთები მას ორ წელიწადში განდევნიან ბაზრიდან და გაანადგურებენ. აი ის ორი წელი იქნება ნამდვილი ბრძოლა გადარჩენისათვის. ჯამში ხუთ ვარსკვალს ვუწერ ტკბილი მგონებებისათვის და ასევე ბრიტანული ბრიტანულობის ბრიტანულად გადმოცემისათვის.
ეს წიგნი სახლში მქონდა წლების წინ და გამიკვირდება აქ ვინმემ იცოდეს, ორჰან ფამუქი არაა... ისე უნდა გახაროთ, მალე ორჰან ფამუქი ანიმეს ფორმატში გამოვა (ვინც დაიჯერა არაფერი ეშველება).
წიგნი ეხება ჰენრი პეიჯს და მის გაზეთს The Northern Light, კონკურენციას და 60 წლის უკანდელ ყოფას. დიდი გაზეთები მას ორ წელიწადში განდევნიან ბაზრიდან და გაანადგურებენ. აი ის ორი წელი იქნება ნამდვილი ბრძოლა გადარჩენისათვის. ჯამში ხუთ ვარსკვალს ვუწერ ტკბილი მგონებებისათვის და ასევე ბრიტანული ბრიტანულობის ბრიტანულად გადმოცემისათვის.
April 18, 2021
Първи контакт с Кронин и съм разочарован. Историята е типично английска, макар и интересна сама по себе си е поднесена сухо и скучно. Главния герой е издател на вестник и голям магнат иска да го придобие. Нашият човек естествено отказва и срещу него започва подмолна война на разорение с цел да го кандиса да продаде.
Героите са толкова безобразно скучно английски, че само дето не казваха "Бог да пази кралицата" преди лягане, за да станат още по-скучни и английски. Краят пък... не мога да повярвам, че е толкова тъп.
Усещам как с Кронин няма да станем приятели. Не, че е кой знае каква загуба.
Героите са толкова безобразно скучно английски, че само дето не казваха "Бог да пази кралицата" преди лягане, за да станат още по-скучни и английски. Краят пък... не мога да повярвам, че е толкова тъп.
Усещам как с Кронин няма да станем приятели. Не, че е кой знае каква загуба.
October 14, 2019
I enjoyed the first part of this book very much. The protagonist was determined to stay true to his morals and present the news in a non-sensational way. The second part, however, was extremely depressing. It showed how far mankind will go both to protect themselves and those those close to them, as well as how far man will go to "win."
If you do not mind reading books with depressing endings, I would definitely recommend this book to you. It was very well-written and had good character development—I personally just did not like the ending.
If you do not mind reading books with depressing endings, I would definitely recommend this book to you. It was very well-written and had good character development—I personally just did not like the ending.
July 30, 2022
Скучна и мрачна, не знам дали бих подхванала друго от автора. Не ми допадна представянето на аборта като най-голямото престъпление, макар и да е разбираемо за годините, в които се развива действието. Като се има предвид, че толкова години след това светът е все още разделен на тази тема, може би нямах нужда от допълнително акцентиране на темата или с други думи не беше точното четиво за момента. Трагичния финал беше предвидим, но по-скоро очаквах да е по линия на баща Пейдж.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2023
The book has 2 parts, each narrating a set of events on the same timeline in the conflict of two newspapers trying to win the market of a small town in Scotland, named Trynecastle. The book carries a lot of 'old school, post 2nd war' business tactics, and a stern drama. Overall, a good classic read, depending on your subjective taste as a reader. Thus, I would give it a 3/5.
September 8, 2022
This is a very entertaining book, like Cronin's books tend to be, but it's also the... least of his books that I've read so far. It's messy and somewhat cluttered, the characters aren't built as well, it's just kinda meh. I did have a reasonable amount of fun though!
May 8, 2023
This was pretty good. The story of the bully boy tactics employed by a national newspaper in its attempt to take over a regional newspaper in the fifties, interwoven with the personal lives of the regional proprietor and his family. Gripping.
September 18, 2024
I remember reading this book in school. The memories of the plot are very vivid in my mind. It has even more relevance today as we face lap dog journalism and its sensations accross the world. I feel that the people of the world need to relook at the kind of journalism they want. It's that simple.
January 18, 2026
I' never read anything by Cronin that I can remember. This was well thought out, good character descriptions. I was expecting a fairly happy ending, but was surprised and saddened by what happened. I look forward to more of Cronin's works.
January 26, 2020
Quite a bit darker than the other novels of Cronin’s I’ve read and a bit of a page turner.
March 19, 2021
Светът не е изгубен, щом има останал дори един човек да се бори за Човешкото в човека.
May 30, 2023
also ***1/2
Life and its miseries...
Life and its miseries...
July 15, 2025
Abbandonato
February 5, 2016
Northern Light is the name of a newspaper in a small town up north (- in UK, that means anywhere not within a couple of commuting hours of London). This story is about keeping that paper alive, through the difficult times of a big one trying to take over.
It is all the more relevant today when huge corporates have invaded all sorts of unimaginable areas of life personal and social, beyond the small business and small towns and street corner businesses. Keeping alive in face of this road roller and having an identity of one's own is as much a struggle for a person dressing up every day as it is for a culture, a nation, a society or a family. Or a couple trying to navigate labyrinths of love for that matter. Or a matter of what films one watches, what one thinks.
It is all the more relevant today when huge corporates have invaded all sorts of unimaginable areas of life personal and social, beyond the small business and small towns and street corner businesses. Keeping alive in face of this road roller and having an identity of one's own is as much a struggle for a person dressing up every day as it is for a culture, a nation, a society or a family. Or a couple trying to navigate labyrinths of love for that matter. Or a matter of what films one watches, what one thinks.
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