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The Menagerie
The Menagerie Cookson, Catherine
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
28 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cookson
501 books685 followersCatherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, who Catherine believed was her older sister. Catherine began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master.
Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.
For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.
Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.
For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 8, 2025
I enjoyed it a good emotional family read
March 12, 2013
This is the first book of the author for me; I am definitely going to read more!
Though, I will give myself a break and read some fluff in-between, as this was too dark and too tragic sometimes.
Though, I will give myself a break and read some fluff in-between, as this was too dark and too tragic sometimes.
December 11, 2022
Sad, dramatic, heartbreaking but also heartwarming. Wonderful characters that I took very much to my heart (except Pam...). It's a pity that the book is already over, I would have liked to stay a little longer with the Broadhurst family.
May 23, 2025
Classic by a great storyteller.
February 16, 2021
All of her stories are so full of life’s dramas! The Menagerie is a prime example of this angst and heartbreak. It rather makes you wonder just what this Author was actually like. Some of her books had at least a few happy moments, this one was just a beautifully written misery.
November 22, 2019
Not one of the best Catherine Cookson novels I've read, fairly depressing storyline - but a good quick read and a happily ever after ending!
November 27, 2022
One of Cookson’s earliest novels and when she writes about what she knew she is at her strongest.
The Menagerie is a good social study of a struggling family in a 1950s English coal town.This story is about the Broadhursts, who appear to outsiders to be happy, loyal and united. But it is Jinny - wife, mother, sister - who holds them together. Her pride and her strength prevents their fears and hates from overwhelming them.
They all live in the one: the parents, Jinny and Frank; their sons, Jack and Larry; Jack’s wife Lena, and Jinny’s sister Lottie. Jinny rules the roost, being a perfectionist and counting on others to meet her high expectations dutifully, morally and qualitatively. Frank is a steady, calm and good-natured spouse and father, working in the same mine as his two sons. Jack is recently married but is being badgered by his lazy pregnant wife, Lena. Handsome Larry is his mother’s idol but his currency has become devalued since he dumped his loyal and loving long-time girlfriend, Jessie, for an amorous flirt, Pam. Then there is the affectionate Aunt Lottie, a gossipy spinster, who is mentally immature, even deranged. Everyone except Lena loves Lottie and puts up with her whims. These are the members of ‘the menagerie’ as Jinny has designated the family. Others who play significant roles include the aforementioned Jessie, a patient and kind daughter who is the sole caregiver to her imperious sickly mother. Jessie still harbours hopes for Larry’s attention to resume. Then there is Pam who abandoned Larry right before their wedding to instead hook up with a rich American, Ron, whom she married. There is Alan, a young Baptist minister, who tries very hard to court Jessie. But there is also Larry’s best friend, Willie, has asked Larry’s consent to endear himself to Jessie whom Larry had dumped. And last there is a fiddler who lives a gypsy-like existence, praying on the vulnerable.
This novel mirrors the dramatic struggles of ordinary people in everyday situations. This is where Cookson excels!
The Menagerie is a good social study of a struggling family in a 1950s English coal town.This story is about the Broadhursts, who appear to outsiders to be happy, loyal and united. But it is Jinny - wife, mother, sister - who holds them together. Her pride and her strength prevents their fears and hates from overwhelming them.
They all live in the one: the parents, Jinny and Frank; their sons, Jack and Larry; Jack’s wife Lena, and Jinny’s sister Lottie. Jinny rules the roost, being a perfectionist and counting on others to meet her high expectations dutifully, morally and qualitatively. Frank is a steady, calm and good-natured spouse and father, working in the same mine as his two sons. Jack is recently married but is being badgered by his lazy pregnant wife, Lena. Handsome Larry is his mother’s idol but his currency has become devalued since he dumped his loyal and loving long-time girlfriend, Jessie, for an amorous flirt, Pam. Then there is the affectionate Aunt Lottie, a gossipy spinster, who is mentally immature, even deranged. Everyone except Lena loves Lottie and puts up with her whims. These are the members of ‘the menagerie’ as Jinny has designated the family. Others who play significant roles include the aforementioned Jessie, a patient and kind daughter who is the sole caregiver to her imperious sickly mother. Jessie still harbours hopes for Larry’s attention to resume. Then there is Pam who abandoned Larry right before their wedding to instead hook up with a rich American, Ron, whom she married. There is Alan, a young Baptist minister, who tries very hard to court Jessie. But there is also Larry’s best friend, Willie, has asked Larry’s consent to endear himself to Jessie whom Larry had dumped. And last there is a fiddler who lives a gypsy-like existence, praying on the vulnerable.
This novel mirrors the dramatic struggles of ordinary people in everyday situations. This is where Cookson excels!
December 7, 2016
One of Cookson’s earliest novels. It is like a study of life of a struggling family in a 1950s English coal mining town. The reader gets to feel close to the most important players. In one house there are seven adults: the parents, Jinny and Frank; their sons, Jack and Larry; Jack’s wife Lena, and Jinny’s sister Lottie. Jinny rules the roost, being a perfectionist and counting on others to meet her high expectations dutifully, morally and qualitatively. Frank is a steady, calm and good-natured spouse and father, working in the same mine as his two sons. Jack is recently married but is being badgered by his lazy pregnant wife, Lena. Handsome Larry is his mother’s idol but his currency has become devalued since he dumped his loyal and loving long-time girlfriend, Jessie, for an amorous flirt, Pam. Then there is the affectionate Aunt Lottie, a gossipy spinster, who is mentally immature, even deranged. Everyone except Lena loves Lottie and puts up with her whims. These are the members of ‘the menagerie’ as Jinny has designated the family. Others who play significant roles include the aforementioned Jessie, a patient and kind daughter who is the sole caregiver to her imperious sickly mother. Jessie still harbors hopes for Larry’s attention to resume. Then there is Pam who abandoned Larry right before their wedding to instead hook up with a rich American, Ron, whom she married. There is Alan, a young Baptist minister, who tries very hard to court Jessie. But there is also Larry’s best friend, Willie, has asked Larry’s consent to endear himself to Jessie whom Larry had dumped. And last there is a fiddler who lives a gypsy-like existence, praying on the vulnerable. This novel mirrors the dramatic struggles of ordinary people. Cookson wrote about what she knew. It is not a great masterpiece but I found it to be a very good read.
August 28, 2014
This is the story of Larry and his family and is set in the 50s, hence the language being not-acceptable nowadays which really dates it.
He works down the pit with his father and brother but dreams of leaving and becoming a writer. Falling for the glamourous Pam he ditches Jessie who is safe and reliable but she then ditches him leaving him alone.
The book starts when Pam returns as a married woman things are changed in the small community forever.
This book is not one of my favourite by the author by a long way and is very slow and tortuous at times.
the plot seems contrived at times and it's hard to sympathise with people who bring a lot on themselves.
A pleasant enough read which comes to an inevitable conclusion
He works down the pit with his father and brother but dreams of leaving and becoming a writer. Falling for the glamourous Pam he ditches Jessie who is safe and reliable but she then ditches him leaving him alone.
The book starts when Pam returns as a married woman things are changed in the small community forever.
This book is not one of my favourite by the author by a long way and is very slow and tortuous at times.
the plot seems contrived at times and it's hard to sympathise with people who bring a lot on themselves.
A pleasant enough read which comes to an inevitable conclusion
November 9, 2008
This is the story of the Broadhursts, a mining family who appear to outsiders to be happy, loyal and united. But it is Jinny - wife, mother, sister - who holds them together. Her pride and her strength prevents their fears and hates from overwhelming them.
February 23, 2010
The best of hers- I was living with the characters for a long time and I did not to start another book...
April 18, 2013
I like this book took it when i went on holiday and couldnt put it down.....recommended
May 8, 2017
Ihana kirja!!
Read
July 23, 2016Matkalukemisena ihan hyvä.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews