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The Fen Tiger
Deep in the wild fen country, Rosamund Morley lived a cloistered, poverty-stricken existance with her sister Jennifer and her alcoholic father. She was the prop and stay of the family - and it was she who ran for help the night her father set his bed alight after a drinking bout. That night was to change the course of Rosamund's life - for, fleeing through the woods, she met Michael Bradshaw, the man she christened the 'Fen Tiger'. When she knew more of Michael's past and the fate that had forced him to live in isolation, Rosamund's initial feelings of dislike changed to compassion... and then something deeper...
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
23 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cookson
463 books690 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
August 28, 2011
I read Catherine Cookson in my teenage years. I loved them. I am not sure if I would enjoy them as an adult, but it is only fair to rate them based on my experience at the time. And having read most of her books, I must have been a fan.
August 6, 2016
Charity shop purchase, Peterborough
Description: Deep in the wild fen country, Rosamund Morley lived a cloistered, poverty-stricken existance with her sister Jennifer and her alcoholic father. She was the prop and stay of the family - and it was she who ran for help the night her father set his bed alight after a drinking bout. That night was to change the course of Rosamund's life - for, fleeing through the woods, she met Michael Bradshaw, the man she christened the 'Fen Tiger'.
When she knew more of Michael's past and the fate that had forced him to live in isolation, Rosamund's initial feelings of dislike changed to compassion... and then something deeper...
Opening: Rosamund Morley was dreaming; she was dreaming that she was putting her signature to the bottom of a document and this document concerned Heron Mill.
An early Cookson written under the pen name Catherine Marchant and set outside her usual County Durham setting. Not my favourite even though the the subject of land reclamation could have ensured it would be.
5* Tilly Trotter
TR The Dwelling Place
3.5* The Glass Virgin
3* The Mallen Streak
3* The Fifteen Streets
3' The Girl
5* The Rag Nymph
3* Katie Mulholland
3* The Cinder Path
2* The Mallen Girl
3* The Mallen Litter
4* Feathers in the Fire
3* Colour Blind
3* The Silent Lady
3* The Branded Man
3* Pure as the Lily
4* The Maltese Angel
3* The Fen Tiger
4* The Wingless Bird
Description: Deep in the wild fen country, Rosamund Morley lived a cloistered, poverty-stricken existance with her sister Jennifer and her alcoholic father. She was the prop and stay of the family - and it was she who ran for help the night her father set his bed alight after a drinking bout. That night was to change the course of Rosamund's life - for, fleeing through the woods, she met Michael Bradshaw, the man she christened the 'Fen Tiger'.
When she knew more of Michael's past and the fate that had forced him to live in isolation, Rosamund's initial feelings of dislike changed to compassion... and then something deeper...
Opening: Rosamund Morley was dreaming; she was dreaming that she was putting her signature to the bottom of a document and this document concerned Heron Mill. An early Cookson written under the pen name Catherine Marchant and set outside her usual County Durham setting. Not my favourite even though the the subject of land reclamation could have ensured it would be.5* Tilly Trotter
TR The Dwelling Place
3.5* The Glass Virgin
3* The Mallen Streak
3* The Fifteen Streets
3' The Girl
5* The Rag Nymph
3* Katie Mulholland
3* The Cinder Path
2* The Mallen Girl
3* The Mallen Litter
4* Feathers in the Fire
3* Colour Blind
3* The Silent Lady
3* The Branded Man
3* Pure as the Lily
4* The Maltese Angel
3* The Fen Tiger
4* The Wingless Bird
December 11, 2010
Good book :) Couldn't believe hows evil the Mother was :o And I loved the little girl!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2024
3.5, as I'll probably re-read it one day. Liked it, but didn't love it. Very formulaic, but Cookson always incorporates this introspective self-awareness to the cliches, which somewhat rounds it out. (Like when Rosie began to wonder if Michael's interest in her was simply because he wanted a mother for his daughter, and for himself). I'm not quite sure where Michael and Rosie found time to fall in love, and that part certainly irked me a bit, as well as the Jane Eyre storyline, the use of Susie as a plot foil, the stupid twist, as well as the fact that Cookson ends it like she ends a couple of her other stories: Climactic near-death experience, wakes up in hospital, bing bang boom that's it. Also, none of the other characters were rounded out (was there any point to Glen at all?)
Still, I'm enamored with the intense way Cookson writes men ("like God and the Devil in one"), and inevitably I ended up liking Michael. Especially at the hot line "I've come for my wife". Dang.
(2024 update - amazed that I marked this so low. It ended up being a regular guilty pleasure read).
Still, I'm enamored with the intense way Cookson writes men ("like God and the Devil in one"), and inevitably I ended up liking Michael. Especially at the hot line "I've come for my wife". Dang.
(2024 update - amazed that I marked this so low. It ended up being a regular guilty pleasure read).
June 7, 2022
It's been a while since my last Gothic Romance, how nostalgic, it was like the times where I used to read VH.
So yes, it is a book with the same feelings, only different period and setting. But there is still that arrogant, proud hero who falls for our heroine (more for her heart than for her looks, since her sister is prettier), there is that secret-not-so-secret wife -is she dead? was she crazy?... no and yes; there is his daughter who loves the heroine from almost the beginning; a possible suitor who is fun but not serious, etc.
I think it may be hard to like the hero Michael since he is a bit aloof and intense. But he loved his daughter, and I do like this kind of hero in my Gothic romances.
Rosamund, the heroine, was a bit bland, and while the characters are underdeveloped, I did like this author and will read more of her works.
So yes, it is a book with the same feelings, only different period and setting. But there is still that arrogant, proud hero who falls for our heroine (more for her heart than for her looks, since her sister is prettier), there is that secret-not-so-secret wife -is she dead? was she crazy?... no and yes; there is his daughter who loves the heroine from almost the beginning; a possible suitor who is fun but not serious, etc.
I think it may be hard to like the hero Michael since he is a bit aloof and intense. But he loved his daughter, and I do like this kind of hero in my Gothic romances.
Rosamund, the heroine, was a bit bland, and while the characters are underdeveloped, I did like this author and will read more of her works.
October 20, 2025
A lovely little story written in Catherine's wonderful inimitable style. It is totally set in one location and the story develops into something much deeper towards the end!
November 27, 2022
Another good read I ordered from the School Library Book Club under Cookson's pseudonym Catherine Marchant. Still enjoy it today. A romance between Rosamund, a girl from a poor fen family, and Michael, the Fen Tiger, himself suffering from a fateful past.
SYNOPSIS:
Deep in the wild fen country, Rosamund Morley lived a cloistered, poverty-stricken existence with her sister Jennifer and her alcoholic father. She was the prop and stay of the family - and it was she who ran for help the night her father set his bed alight after a drinking bout.
That night was to change the course of Rosamund's life - for, fleeing through the woods, she met Michael Bradshaw, the man she christened the 'Fen Tiger'. When she knew more of Michael's past and the fate that had forced him to live in isolation, Rosamund's initial feelings of dislike slowly changed to compassion...and then to something deeper....
SYNOPSIS:
Deep in the wild fen country, Rosamund Morley lived a cloistered, poverty-stricken existence with her sister Jennifer and her alcoholic father. She was the prop and stay of the family - and it was she who ran for help the night her father set his bed alight after a drinking bout.
That night was to change the course of Rosamund's life - for, fleeing through the woods, she met Michael Bradshaw, the man she christened the 'Fen Tiger'. When she knew more of Michael's past and the fate that had forced him to live in isolation, Rosamund's initial feelings of dislike slowly changed to compassion...and then to something deeper....
May 18, 2012
I read all of Catherine Cookson's books some years ago and enjoyed them immensley. I recently re-read all of them and find that on a second look I found them all so very predictable, and was rather disappointed. However I'm sure that it is my tastes that have changed not the calibre of her story telling.
July 26, 2009
Back Cover Blurb:
A romance between Rosamund, a girl from a poor fen family, and Michael, the 'Fen Tiger', himself suffering from a fateful past.
A romance between Rosamund, a girl from a poor fen family, and Michael, the 'Fen Tiger', himself suffering from a fateful past.
Read
November 20, 2009another nice simple love story
October 29, 2011
A Gothic story.
August 19, 2013
This book was from my mom's shelves (when she was in her early 20s)...occasionally I randomly pull one off the shelf and read it. Such a different writing style then now.
August 20, 2013
just like her other novel "Heritage of Folly", this one too is set in a rural background.nice and gripping plot!enjoyed it!
February 28, 2023
Another excellent book, read a few times over the years.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews