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Jarrow #1
The Jarrow Lass
Brought up on her parents' smallholding in Jarrow, Rose McConnell knows she is luckier than many in Tyneside during the harsh years of the 1870s. But she can't help dreaming of the world she has glimpsed in the idyllic country estate of Ravensworth where her own mother grew up. And when she captures the heart of handsome William Fawcett, who comes from a respectable family and lives in the well-to-do James Terrace, it seems her dream of a better life is finally within her reach. As the years go by she is blessed not only with a loving husband she adores, but with a home of her own and a brood of beautiful daughters who she vows will never know the hardship of her upbringing. But with the poverty of Jarrow never far away, it sometimes seems that the security of Rose's new life is as delicate as her childhood dreams...
480 pages, Paperback
First published August 14, 1997
310 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Janet MacLeod Trotter
47 books364 followersJanet was brought up in the North East of England with her four brothers, by Scottish parents. She is a best-selling author of 24 books, including the hugely popular INDIA TEA SERIES, THE JARROW TRILOGY and a childhood memoir, BEATLES & CHIEFS, which was featured on BBC Radio Four. Her novel, THE HUNGRY HILLS, gained her a place on the shortlist of The Sunday Times’ Young Writers’ Award, and the TEA PLANTER’S DAUGHTER and IN THE FAR PASHMINA MOUNTAINS were nominated for the RNA Historical Novel Award. Her India-set novels, such as THE RAJ HOTEL SERIES, are inspired by her grandparents who lived and worked in India from the 1920s to '50s.
A graduate of Edinburgh University, she has been editor of the Clan MacLeod Magazine, a columnist on the Newcastle Journal and has had numerous short stories published in women’s magazines. Aged 18 she climbed on a bus and went to Kathmandu - the result was a mystery novel, THE VANISHING OF RUTH. Her second mystery, THE HAUNTING OF KULAH is set on the remote Outer Isles of Scotland. She has also written a Scottish historical novel, THE JACOBITE LASS, based on the epic story of Scottish heroine, Flora MacDonald.
A graduate of Edinburgh University, she has been editor of the Clan MacLeod Magazine, a columnist on the Newcastle Journal and has had numerous short stories published in women’s magazines. Aged 18 she climbed on a bus and went to Kathmandu - the result was a mystery novel, THE VANISHING OF RUTH. Her second mystery, THE HAUNTING OF KULAH is set on the remote Outer Isles of Scotland. She has also written a Scottish historical novel, THE JACOBITE LASS, based on the epic story of Scottish heroine, Flora MacDonald.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
January 14, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed every word that was written on the pages of this book. Recommended.
July 22, 2016
Janet MacLeod Trotter is an author that I had never considered reading until my daughter purchased this trilogy for Kindle. I was surprised as not the sort of thing that I would have expected to appeal to her, in fact she thoroughly enjoyed the saga and recommended that I read them. Intrigued especially when I learnt that the story was inspired by the life of Catherine Cookson, the trilogy seemed a good choice for a holiday read.
A gripping and historical family saga that spans the late 19C and the first half of the 20C with admirable heroines. Slow to start with but once I was immersed in the trials and tribulations of the family, I just wanted to keep reading. Ended up reading all three volumes, one after the other as savoured the insight into life during that period.
Survival against all odds is the recurrent theme throughout the trilogy as we follow the stories of love and sorrow through the eyes of the three female heroines and their families. The Jarrow Lass, the first in the trilogy introduces us to Rose, growing up on a small holding in Jarrow in the 1870's but dreaming of a better life in the country that she once glimpsed as a child. She thinks her dream might be in reach when she marries a steelworker, but tragedy strikes and poverty threatens.
The protagonist of the second volume A Child of Jarrow is daughter Kate who to escape problems with her step-father is sent to work in the countryside on the Ravensworth Estate. Kate soon settles into her new life but sadly finds that daring to dream leads her into trouble and she has to return home to Jarrow, where life is even more difficult to cope with.
Return to Jarrow concludes the trilogy with the story of Rose's granddaughter Catherine, though always know as Kitty. Streetwise Kitty is very bitter about her mother Kate's new husband and she is determined to escape life in the poverty stricken north east. Despite being teased by her contemporaries uneducated Kitty turns herself into an educated well spoken young lady called Catherine. Romance, heartbreak and deprivation pave the way as this spirited young lady sets off to follow her ambitions.
The trilogy was indeed a good choice for my trip. The style of writing was in fact reminiscent of Catherine Cookson whose novels I read some of in the dim distant past. Fans of Catherine Cookson in particular and those of historical fiction in general will I feel enjoy this saga. A good choice for your eBook reader for your next holiday, personally for me Ebooks will never replace the printed page but as an avid reader packing enough paperbacks for a holiday was always a nightmare!
http://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspo...
A gripping and historical family saga that spans the late 19C and the first half of the 20C with admirable heroines. Slow to start with but once I was immersed in the trials and tribulations of the family, I just wanted to keep reading. Ended up reading all three volumes, one after the other as savoured the insight into life during that period.
Survival against all odds is the recurrent theme throughout the trilogy as we follow the stories of love and sorrow through the eyes of the three female heroines and their families. The Jarrow Lass, the first in the trilogy introduces us to Rose, growing up on a small holding in Jarrow in the 1870's but dreaming of a better life in the country that she once glimpsed as a child. She thinks her dream might be in reach when she marries a steelworker, but tragedy strikes and poverty threatens.
The protagonist of the second volume A Child of Jarrow is daughter Kate who to escape problems with her step-father is sent to work in the countryside on the Ravensworth Estate. Kate soon settles into her new life but sadly finds that daring to dream leads her into trouble and she has to return home to Jarrow, where life is even more difficult to cope with.
Return to Jarrow concludes the trilogy with the story of Rose's granddaughter Catherine, though always know as Kitty. Streetwise Kitty is very bitter about her mother Kate's new husband and she is determined to escape life in the poverty stricken north east. Despite being teased by her contemporaries uneducated Kitty turns herself into an educated well spoken young lady called Catherine. Romance, heartbreak and deprivation pave the way as this spirited young lady sets off to follow her ambitions.
The trilogy was indeed a good choice for my trip. The style of writing was in fact reminiscent of Catherine Cookson whose novels I read some of in the dim distant past. Fans of Catherine Cookson in particular and those of historical fiction in general will I feel enjoy this saga. A good choice for your eBook reader for your next holiday, personally for me Ebooks will never replace the printed page but as an avid reader packing enough paperbacks for a holiday was always a nightmare!
http://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspo...
December 3, 2012
This book has been in my Kobo for ages. It was the type of book, in my opinion, that you left until the end, until you had read 'all the good stuff.' How wrong was I! I started this book as I had nothing else left to read and loved it. Loved it that much in fact that I have purchased the second and third in the series.
The book focusses around Rose.....the Jarrow lass, and her trials and tribulations with her family, her love interests and her place in society and life in poverty.
I loved this book - the author depicts life for Rose so well, and you feel her ups and downs as you read.
Think Catherine Cookson, but earlier.
The book focusses around Rose.....the Jarrow lass, and her trials and tribulations with her family, her love interests and her place in society and life in poverty.
I loved this book - the author depicts life for Rose so well, and you feel her ups and downs as you read.
Think Catherine Cookson, but earlier.
April 20, 2014
I love Catherine Cookson, so when I read that this was inspired by the life of her grandmother I just had to read it. And read it I did. I finished it in two days...reading till 3am! The story is heartbreaking yet passionate and makes us thankful for the things we have today that would be considered luxuries and more back then. You feel their sorrow and heartbreak, admire their strength and courage, and remain thankful life has changed since then. Yet we find ourselves drawn to their plight, their tale and their story that if it weren't 3am I'd be back on Amazon buying the next in the trilogy to read now! lol. But that can wait till tomorrow...or as they would - it canny wait till the morra.
Merged review:
I love Catherine Cookson, so when I read that this was inspired by the life of her grandmother I just had to read it. And read it I did. I finished it in two days...reading till 3am! The story is heartbreaking yet passionate and makes us thankful for the things we have today that would be considered luxuries and more back then. You feel their sorrow and heartbreak, admire their strength and courage, and remain thankful life has changed since then. Yet we find ourselves drawn to their plight, their tale and their story that if it weren't 3am I'd be back here buying the next in the trilogy to read now! lol. But that can wait till tomorrow...or as they would - it canny wait till the morra.
Merged review:
I love Catherine Cookson, so when I read that this was inspired by the life of her grandmother I just had to read it. And read it I did. I finished it in two days...reading till 3am! The story is heartbreaking yet passionate and makes us thankful for the things we have today that would be considered luxuries and more back then. You feel their sorrow and heartbreak, admire their strength and courage, and remain thankful life has changed since then. Yet we find ourselves drawn to their plight, their tale and their story that if it weren't 3am I'd be back here buying the next in the trilogy to read now! lol. But that can wait till tomorrow...or as they would - it canny wait till the morra.
April 9, 2018
For God's sake - HAVE ANOTHER BABY!!
This book is awful. I kept reading just because I wanted it to end! I know that women were treated horribly. I know that these were difficult times when people were highly uneducated and lived in abject poverty but my God this book was awful. If one more person died, got pregnant, was beaten by her drunk husband, got head lice, became ill, shit themselves, or whatever awful affliction the author could dream up I was going to lose it. Thank God I only paid .99 cents for this wretched tale of death and depression! And if Rose was as strong as the author likes to paint her she would have not let her drunk ass, foul mouthed husband impregnate her ever!!! And she certainly would not have let him continually beat her while spending ever last shilling on booze. I would have plotted his untimely death and under no circumstance would I have "warmed his bed." Since he was drunk 97% of the time it would have been easy. I would starve and live in the alley before I put up with half the bs she endured.
This book is awful. I kept reading just because I wanted it to end! I know that women were treated horribly. I know that these were difficult times when people were highly uneducated and lived in abject poverty but my God this book was awful. If one more person died, got pregnant, was beaten by her drunk husband, got head lice, became ill, shit themselves, or whatever awful affliction the author could dream up I was going to lose it. Thank God I only paid .99 cents for this wretched tale of death and depression! And if Rose was as strong as the author likes to paint her she would have not let her drunk ass, foul mouthed husband impregnate her ever!!! And she certainly would not have let him continually beat her while spending ever last shilling on booze. I would have plotted his untimely death and under no circumstance would I have "warmed his bed." Since he was drunk 97% of the time it would have been easy. I would starve and live in the alley before I put up with half the bs she endured.
October 2, 2014
I really liked this book although the lead character had a very hard life particularly with her 2nd husband. Her in-laws from her first marriage didn't treat her well and all through the book I wanted something good to happen to her.
This was a very well written book and the author drew the characters so well within the book that you could almost imagine them being real. I love to read period dramas and thoroughly enjoyed this one. I'm looking forward to reading the other 2 books in the trilogy,
This was a very well written book and the author drew the characters so well within the book that you could almost imagine them being real. I love to read period dramas and thoroughly enjoyed this one. I'm looking forward to reading the other 2 books in the trilogy,
May 7, 2012
From a Jarrow lad this is a very well written, evocative and representative rendition of life in Jarra at that time, will be following this on with the next two in the trilogy.......well done lass you penned a reet canny read like!
May 21, 2014
I am a fanatic about family sagas. You will see this if you look at the genre of books I read. Janet Macleod Trotter is a wonderful writer and when you read this book you will have to read the others because the story is superb.
May 9, 2014
such a good book. Struggled to put it down. Read all three in the series, all fantastic. You can get completely lost in the story. Feel at a loss now I've finished them!! :-(
October 2, 2016
This was brilliant, telling the life of Catherine Cooksons family. Can't believe how people used to live and managed. Have to read the rest now
September 4, 2019
First hated it, then loved it!
This is one of the few books I commenced to read, then returned unfinished only to download again a few weeks later. The second time I stuck with it and loved it, so much so that I quickly devoured all three books in the series. During my first attempt, I got lost in the language and number of characters of which, at the time, seemed many. I was listening with Kindle voice, and that didn't help matters; I was lost. The second time was better because I allowed my ears time to adjust. I then found myself enjoying the story, language included, and was eventually sorry to see the series end. It's truly a poignant read that puts a face on poverty and demonstrates the human spirit to survive, notably from the perspective of women. You will not only read about these characters, but come to know them intimately and understand who they are and why. How do people become mean or drunks or controlling or abusive? How do people, who are impoverished, become successful? This series provides some answers through the travails of a family that daily struggled against terrible odds. It's a story you won't soon forget ---especially if you love books written by Catherine Cookson. That's a promise!
This is one of the few books I commenced to read, then returned unfinished only to download again a few weeks later. The second time I stuck with it and loved it, so much so that I quickly devoured all three books in the series. During my first attempt, I got lost in the language and number of characters of which, at the time, seemed many. I was listening with Kindle voice, and that didn't help matters; I was lost. The second time was better because I allowed my ears time to adjust. I then found myself enjoying the story, language included, and was eventually sorry to see the series end. It's truly a poignant read that puts a face on poverty and demonstrates the human spirit to survive, notably from the perspective of women. You will not only read about these characters, but come to know them intimately and understand who they are and why. How do people become mean or drunks or controlling or abusive? How do people, who are impoverished, become successful? This series provides some answers through the travails of a family that daily struggled against terrible odds. It's a story you won't soon forget ---especially if you love books written by Catherine Cookson. That's a promise!
July 2, 2019
A great story!
This is a powerful story of the highs and lows, strife, desperation and the fight to hold off poverty in Jarrow, England from 1860's to the turn of the century.
The story begins with a young girl Rose as she grows into womanhood eventually marrying a young man William who has stolen her heart. As Rose brings child after child into the world her struggles to manage through tough times, including her embittered mother-in-law, are cataloged.
This story is very well described as poverty, hunger, loss of life and hard work forge Rose's determination to give her children a better life despite the abuse and roughness of a second marriage to John.
Janet MacLeod Trotter has a gift for painting a picture that makes her story here very real as the years of turmoil pass by. I felt the struggles as well as the depression and devotion of Rose as she fights to hold her head up during the lows.
This is a great one for readers of historical fiction.
This is a powerful story of the highs and lows, strife, desperation and the fight to hold off poverty in Jarrow, England from 1860's to the turn of the century.
The story begins with a young girl Rose as she grows into womanhood eventually marrying a young man William who has stolen her heart. As Rose brings child after child into the world her struggles to manage through tough times, including her embittered mother-in-law, are cataloged.
This story is very well described as poverty, hunger, loss of life and hard work forge Rose's determination to give her children a better life despite the abuse and roughness of a second marriage to John.
Janet MacLeod Trotter has a gift for painting a picture that makes her story here very real as the years of turmoil pass by. I felt the struggles as well as the depression and devotion of Rose as she fights to hold her head up during the lows.
This is a great one for readers of historical fiction.
April 22, 2020
Drama set in the late 19th century.
This first instalment in the trilogy tells the story of Rose McConnell growing up in poverty in Jarrow. It tells of her ambitions to make more of herself, and how her life unfolds in these difficult times. Janet MacLeod Trotter is a great storyteller, and I kept reading late into the night to find out what happened next. I feel sure that this family saga will keep me reading for some time to come. The characters are painted carefully, so you can almost picture them in their different homes, following their fortunes for better or worse, through slumps in the shipyard and good times of plenty. It will keep you in turn entranced and horrified. But throughout it all Rose remains strong in her ambitions for her family.
This first instalment in the trilogy tells the story of Rose McConnell growing up in poverty in Jarrow. It tells of her ambitions to make more of herself, and how her life unfolds in these difficult times. Janet MacLeod Trotter is a great storyteller, and I kept reading late into the night to find out what happened next. I feel sure that this family saga will keep me reading for some time to come. The characters are painted carefully, so you can almost picture them in their different homes, following their fortunes for better or worse, through slumps in the shipyard and good times of plenty. It will keep you in turn entranced and horrified. But throughout it all Rose remains strong in her ambitions for her family.
May 10, 2020
Apparently based on the life of Catherine Cookson's grandmother, this is a gritty tale of life in the north east in the nineteenth century. Rose has dreams of marrying well and having a happy life - the reality turns out to be rather different as poverty, unemployment, hunger and violence all play a part to grind her down. However, she still hopes for better for her children.
The story is told well, and the reader has great sympathy for the characters, even the violent drunk of a husband, frustrated because he can't earn a decent wage despite doing back-breaking work, who then seeks what solace he can find in drink.
The book evokes the grinding poverty of Jarrow and the north east at this time, and the reader is bowled along to find out what happens to this woman.
The story is told well, and the reader has great sympathy for the characters, even the violent drunk of a husband, frustrated because he can't earn a decent wage despite doing back-breaking work, who then seeks what solace he can find in drink.
The book evokes the grinding poverty of Jarrow and the north east at this time, and the reader is bowled along to find out what happens to this woman.
October 22, 2022
I liked the spunky, proud, bighearted heroine so much I suffered through all her trials with her, and couldn’t put the book down. This is not your standard romance. Though there is romance in the story, it is mostly about the squalid conditions in an English factory town during the industrial revolution, especially terrible for women. Despite moments of respite, the heroine must endure unimaginable poverty, yet never completely loses her decency and fighting spirit.I was sorry when the novel ended and quickly went on to read the next book in the series,
September 3, 2019
I have read several books written by Janet MacLeod Trotter and was really expecting this one to be similar. I was expecting some romance, happy ending, great love.. I kept reading further and further in the book, " surely, next chapter will bring happiness" but it never came.. It's a saga about real people and their [shatered] dreams.. not everyone gets a happy ending.
June 15, 2020
Ruthy
This book portrays passion, sorrow, evil and strength, it gave so much I couldn’t put it down. The characters described so clearly I lived each challenge with them, felt their pain and happiness when overcoming desperation and despair. Wonderful. Can’t wait to read next book.
This book portrays passion, sorrow, evil and strength, it gave so much I couldn’t put it down. The characters described so clearly I lived each challenge with them, felt their pain and happiness when overcoming desperation and despair. Wonderful. Can’t wait to read next book.
February 18, 2018
Harsh
The lives women lived back in the late 1800's and beyond is beyond belief. Horrible. Rose's struggle with the "mores" of the age are remarkable. She won and lost. I can't wait to read the next book.
The lives women lived back in the late 1800's and beyond is beyond belief. Horrible. Rose's struggle with the "mores" of the age are remarkable. She won and lost. I can't wait to read the next book.
August 27, 2019
Heartbreak and Hope
With every page I was there with the characters. I fully understood why life was difficult and simple things like going to the beach was such a treat for the whole family. Can't wait to read the next one.
With every page I was there with the characters. I fully understood why life was difficult and simple things like going to the beach was such a treat for the whole family. Can't wait to read the next one.
February 28, 2021
Roseann
What a great story of a young woman struggling to keep her family. I loved the way the story was told and how the family survived through thick and thin. How Rose Anne pulled everyone together time after time with her love of her family.
What a great story of a young woman struggling to keep her family. I loved the way the story was told and how the family survived through thick and thin. How Rose Anne pulled everyone together time after time with her love of her family.
December 17, 2025
recommend this as a great novel.
Quick paced story. A real page turner. Left longing for next book of the trilogy.
This could have been my past. My great grandmother was from this area.
Quick paced story. A real page turner. Left longing for next book of the trilogy.
This could have been my past. My great grandmother was from this area.
October 14, 2017
Story is well told and held my interest most of the time, but quite depressing at times, so I had to skip-read parts.
January 12, 2020
I read the whole series of these which I enjoyed. An easy read.
January 27, 2023
Cyg
Good ggh g he bj jk no n vvh hjb htfv ryhcv haha bhhvv jikj hcvj gvhv. Huvybu b b
Good ggh g he bj jk no n vvh hjb htfv ryhcv haha bhhvv jikj hcvj gvhv. Huvybu b b
Read
March 8, 2025A real page turner....loved it especially the setting and time period.
March 31, 2025
Rose was pathetic. Had to DNF.
April 21, 2025
Couldn’t put it down. Was skimming and scanning to get to the end. So tragic. Riveting read. Now onto book 2. Jarrow Lass.
December 8, 2014
It was an ok read, but for me, it lacked something. The story and the picture of the time was interesting enough to keep me reading, but I thought the characters felt flat and lifeless, some to the point of being stereotypical and cardboardy. Throughout the book, the heroine never evoked any interest in me, I never truly felt her as a living breathing person. I wanted to like the heroine, feel with her, be able to admire her, but none of that ever came up for me. Another point that annoyed me a bit was how quickly most scenes seemed to fly past, I could have done with a more thorough, more detailed description of some characters, places and events. Where some authors paint very vivid images in the minds of a reader, this story feels a bit rough and sketchy to me.
March 21, 2012
Enjoyed this story, am always pleased that I was not born into a situation of poor working class subsistance in Northern England mining regions during Victorian times - life was certainly to be endured not enjoyed. Am going to read the other two books in this trilogy, I am hoping that life will get better - always the optimist
May 1, 2016
Good book in the line of Catherine Cookson and I didn't realize it was about Catherine's grandmother so that made me like it even better. I also didn't realize it was a trilogy so it looks like I will be reading the next two. Life was hard back then! Men were not so nice either.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews