The Devil and Mary Ann

The Mary Ann Series #3

by Catherine Cookson

When Mary Ann is sent from her native Tyneside to become a pupil at a high-class convent boarding school on the South Coast, the idea in her benefactor's mind was that she should be turned into a little lady.

In this, the third story in the Mary Ann series, Mary Ann is seen again as that irrepressible child of Tyneside in all her cheeky delightfulness. As usual, however, despite the seemingly over-powering difficulties, everything is sorted out satisfactorily in the end.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, British Literature

Paperback

First published December 1, 1975

About the author

Catherine 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.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book quite some time ago and really enjoyed the story. Storytelling at it's best.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Ann is still eight in the third installment of the Mary Ann series, but surprisingly, I enjoyed her and her eight year old sassy self still. In this one, Mary Ann must live up to her end of a bargain with Mr. Lord and she must head off to a convent to become educated. So the fiesty, highstrung Mary Ann is now surrounded by devout, prude nuns. Those who know Mary Ann from her previous novels know this cannot last!!

Sure enough, poor Mary Ann gets one bad "mark" after another, ends in one mishap after another, and even finds another "Sarah Flannegen" to fight with. It is only a matter of time before she escapes and races off to her home and her beloved ma and da and brother, Michael. But things at home are not all peachy and she doesn't get the welcome she expects. Mr. Lord is upset. Her ma is afraid her da is having an affair. Her evil granny puts her two cents in and the hated Sarah Flannegen is smug and full of attitude at Mary Ann's fall from grace.

A surprise addition is made in this story with the mysterious Tony that comes to work on the farm.. He has a secret connection to Mr. Lord. This new character may have a drastic effect on the farm, on Mary Ann, and her family.

Nevertheless, after escaping from a convent, what is next for Mary Ann??

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my go-to book for a while. I abandoned it a couple of times in favor of inter-library loans, which can't be renewed and therefore must be read quickly and immediately. When each ILL was finished, I could go back to the Shaughnessys without missing a beat. Fortunately, there's no particular plot to lose in the Mary Ann books.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read, brought quite a few smiles. It's easy to understand how Catherine Cookson is one of the most popular authors.

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this the third novel about Mary Ann. Mr Lord kept his word and Mary Ann's beloved Da has a fine job as farm manager and the family live in a cottage on the farm. The trouble is that Mary Ann now has to keep her side of the bargain and go the a convent boarding school to be properly educated as Mr Lord wishes. Mary Ann is heartbroken to be leaving her family and especially her Da but she knows she has to do so in order to keep Mr Lord happy and therefore keep her Da's job. This is such a huge burden to place upon the shoulders of a little girl of eight, even the feisty Mary Ann. She does her best to fit in at the school but they are all so 'posh' and make fun of her Geordie accent, the nuns are strict and Mary Ann soon starts to accumulate black marks at a fast rate. Then her brother Michael keeps writing to her and hinting that all is not right at home with her Ma and Da. Mary Ann knows what happens when things go wrong for her Da, he gets 'sick' (never drunk of course). She starts to worry and then finally decides that she must take action, as always she does not do things by halves and her actions cause uproar!
Another lovely story for which I have a soft spot.

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Sulaiman Dawood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perhaps one of those books that made me fall in love with the Mary Ann series. The book describes of her journey to a catholic boarding school and how how the atmosphere in that school is opposite to her nature.

I would not ruin the plot but I'd say for sure that the book explores more on the relationship of Mary, her family and The Lord.

I'd suggest everyone to give it a read.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Mary Ann novel was rather hard to put down. Full of her adventures and her bubbling personality it was a laugh a minute. Mary Ann makes a bargain with Mr Lord but things don't go quite the way she had planned. She seems to have her hands full of trouble wherever she goes. A really fun read. Now onto the next novel.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd in series

[Susan]

England 8-yr-old Mary Ann in trouble