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Blue Baccy
The year was 1851 and Rory McAlister was learning the wheelwright's trade in a small town in the north of England. At fifteen, Rory could think of no finer way of life than the one he led as Mr. Cornwall's apprentice. Mr. and Mrs. Cornwall treated him almost as a son. His own family lived nearby and he was able to visit them occasionaly and help them out with his wages. Everyone in the village had a friendly word for him. And -- especially -- there was Lily. But the simple pattern of Rory's life was suddenly shattered. Mr. Cornwallis was injured on the eve of his yearly journey to the West Country, where it was vblieved he went to visit his mother, and Rory was asked to make the journey in his place. But what was the mysterious Blue Baccy the Cornwallises had been discussing? "You'll remember this night for as long as you live, boy," said Mr. Cornwallis. And Rory would remember -- the Isle of Jersey, long night hours at sea, the sound of shots, the sight of death, the taste of fear. He would never forget the new truths revealed through his strange journey -- some of them difficult to accept -- about those he admired and trusted most. But above all he would learn what Blue Baccy was; what it meant to those who risked their lives for it -- and to his master and himself.
- GenresFiction
173 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
37 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cookson
452 books697 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 24, 2020
Rory’s Fortune
Thoughts: so lovely written, captures the heart of the area it was wrote. The period is perfectly created and Catherine sucked us into a world that only we can dream of. She has done more with her words than we will ever be able to give back. This was an easy fast read.
Synopsis:
Rory is a well loved young man working at a cart making shop. Rory leaves with gifts from his employer for his family. He has been working on the farm that they stay on since he was four. He now lives in the wheelwright shop. He is being promoted.
On his way to his parents he has a run in with an aggressive cousin of his bosses. He keeps walking though and meets Lily, his bosses niece. She is being courted by a widower with three children. She is not yet sixteen and they both are horrified. She finds herself almost in tears.
Rory goes home and discovers a man tried to buy his brother. Horrified he takes him back to his Masters where he finds out that his Master was in an accident. His younger brother stays the night with him and the next day the Master orders him to visit his mother as he can not go.
Rory realises there’s more to the journey than the Man’s mother. He has a rough jolting trip to London which makes him sore. He sleeps in the hostel which he thinks is grand before heading down to Anxmister where he has to wait for a man to pick him up. When he is awakened by the man Rory starts to feel unsure.
Rory delivers the letter to the most least lady like woman he has ever met. After being fed and realising he does not like her nor does he allow her to recruit him he is shown to bed where he falls asleep. He is desperate for the trip home.
He is dragged about a farm and the young maid tries to seduce him. Rory only wishes to go home but not understanding what he has gotten himself into he ends up on a boat sailing across the channel.
He thinks he has fallen into a smugglers trap.
May has tricked him. He arrives at the bay and is greeted by his masters friends. They are fed and sleep. Waking up sharply Rory overhears hushed voices only up have his suspicions confirmed. Ben admits they were all tricked.
Ben and Rory make it to the shore after being warned. He is able to get away, but Rory gets away free and feels guilty over the death of Ben. He gets back to Durham thanks to help of strangers.
Rory arrives back to find that his master has died and he is questioned by a man from May’s group. She was caught and taken into custody. His Masters wife takes care of him and Sammy. He stands up under the questioning of this man.
He even manages to protect Scape the goat. He wants to be rid of the stones but can’t. He goes to visit his family and his mum is fearful. His dad still ailing.
He tells them they are moving into a cottage thanks to his master and promises to tell his dad at Christmas his tale of adventure.
At the funeral Rory feels guilty that he can’t express his grief with the weight of the necklace on his chest. He goes to the Dun river where he throws each stone off with Lily. They promise no matter how little he is paid she will be his.
They kiss and he takes her hand as they rush back to the village. Sammy collects Rory where he finds out all the master left him. A cottage for his parents, the shop on when his tutors retire which they can only do after they finish his education. He is to stay with the Mistress and treat her like his own mum. He finds out about what happens when she passes and how this shop will become his.
The Cornwallis are furious and leave with a bang.
The next day on his way to move his parents Lily runs out and tells him how her parents are pushing her towards him. They laugh and come up with a plan. He becomes a man with responsibilities on his shoulders. He feels ready for them.
Thoughts: so lovely written, captures the heart of the area it was wrote. The period is perfectly created and Catherine sucked us into a world that only we can dream of. She has done more with her words than we will ever be able to give back. This was an easy fast read.
Synopsis:
Rory is a well loved young man working at a cart making shop. Rory leaves with gifts from his employer for his family. He has been working on the farm that they stay on since he was four. He now lives in the wheelwright shop. He is being promoted.
On his way to his parents he has a run in with an aggressive cousin of his bosses. He keeps walking though and meets Lily, his bosses niece. She is being courted by a widower with three children. She is not yet sixteen and they both are horrified. She finds herself almost in tears.
Rory goes home and discovers a man tried to buy his brother. Horrified he takes him back to his Masters where he finds out that his Master was in an accident. His younger brother stays the night with him and the next day the Master orders him to visit his mother as he can not go.
Rory realises there’s more to the journey than the Man’s mother. He has a rough jolting trip to London which makes him sore. He sleeps in the hostel which he thinks is grand before heading down to Anxmister where he has to wait for a man to pick him up. When he is awakened by the man Rory starts to feel unsure.
Rory delivers the letter to the most least lady like woman he has ever met. After being fed and realising he does not like her nor does he allow her to recruit him he is shown to bed where he falls asleep. He is desperate for the trip home.
He is dragged about a farm and the young maid tries to seduce him. Rory only wishes to go home but not understanding what he has gotten himself into he ends up on a boat sailing across the channel.
He thinks he has fallen into a smugglers trap.
May has tricked him. He arrives at the bay and is greeted by his masters friends. They are fed and sleep. Waking up sharply Rory overhears hushed voices only up have his suspicions confirmed. Ben admits they were all tricked.
Ben and Rory make it to the shore after being warned. He is able to get away, but Rory gets away free and feels guilty over the death of Ben. He gets back to Durham thanks to help of strangers.
Rory arrives back to find that his master has died and he is questioned by a man from May’s group. She was caught and taken into custody. His Masters wife takes care of him and Sammy. He stands up under the questioning of this man.
He even manages to protect Scape the goat. He wants to be rid of the stones but can’t. He goes to visit his family and his mum is fearful. His dad still ailing.
He tells them they are moving into a cottage thanks to his master and promises to tell his dad at Christmas his tale of adventure.
At the funeral Rory feels guilty that he can’t express his grief with the weight of the necklace on his chest. He goes to the Dun river where he throws each stone off with Lily. They promise no matter how little he is paid she will be his.
They kiss and he takes her hand as they rush back to the village. Sammy collects Rory where he finds out all the master left him. A cottage for his parents, the shop on when his tutors retire which they can only do after they finish his education. He is to stay with the Mistress and treat her like his own mum. He finds out about what happens when she passes and how this shop will become his.
The Cornwallis are furious and leave with a bang.
The next day on his way to move his parents Lily runs out and tells him how her parents are pushing her towards him. They laugh and come up with a plan. He becomes a man with responsibilities on his shoulders. He feels ready for them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2023
Interesting coming of age story set far away in a time that has gone
November 28, 2022
Read as a child - first book that I remember reading and was absorbed
February 23, 2010
Secrets....
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews