The Hamiltons: Two Novels

by Catherine Cookson

Catherine Cookson's Hamilton novels have taken their place among the most widely acclaimed and enjoyed of her books. In this omnibus edition of Hamilton and Goodbye Hamilton , she shows her exceptional ability to tell a story in which good humor and a sense of compassion are finely blended, with characters so vividly alive they leap off the page.

Maisie could never be quite sure when she first met Hamilton, but most likely it was when she started talking to herself as a lonely seven-year-old. She didn't know his name until much later,when she was fourteen and Dr. Kane had to pay her a visit. "Let us use our horse sense," he said, and at that moment Maisie saw a great horse galloping past him and all the time looking at her, its eyes full of knowledge and its lips drawn back as if in laughter. Soon after, Maisie adopted the name Hamilton for her new and secret companion. Of course, she couldn't talk about Hamilton to anyone -- but she could write about him. And write she did, with results that would eventually broaden her horizons far beyond the confines of the small town where she had spent her lonely girlhood. Hamilton would continue to be a pillar of Maisie's life for years, as she deals with the adult problems of work, love,and marriage and builds a life for herself.

Goodbye Hamilton picks up where Hamilton leaves off. By the time Maisie reaches her early thirties, she's escaped a disastrous marriage and become a bestselling author with her very first all about Hamilton, the remarkable horse who exists only in her imagination but had nonetheless proved a real guide, philosopher, and friend since her childhood. Now she's about to be married again, this time to a man whose deep and abiding love for her knows no bounds. And Hamilton, in turn, marks the occasion by taking a wife himself, an elegant (and equally imaginary) mare named Begonia.

So the outlook was fair, but it seems Maisie was destined never to know happiness untouched by sorrow, and the next few years would bring their share of fresh troubles -- some a legacy from the past -- to face and fight. But Hamilton and Begonia are there to back her up, and at a time when things are looking especially black, a very real flesh and blood boy (with a surprisingly deplorable vocabulary) comes tumbling into her life, providing the greatest support and joy of all.

400 pages, Hardcover

First published December 5, 2006

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

[Helen Geng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 2.5

Read January 2022

NYPL book

[Svetlana Repina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hamiltons has everything I love to appreciate about a true art.

Catherine Cookson's writing is so fantastic in this book that I had a hard time to put it down: it made me cry and it made me laugh and to admire the intricate wording of it.

This book is about a girl who grew up in unfortunate circumstances but during her childhood she got connected to her imaginary horse which represented the spiritual part of her.

The book a combination of sad and funny, portraying a strong person who in her loneliness shared her thoughts, happy or otherwise with that quiet very friendly and absolutely hilarious, horse.

See for yourself how a battered girl becomes famous and rich thanks to her imaginary horse.

This book has all great reviews on Amazon.

I would like to hear your thoughts on this great book!

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book wondering if I would like it. The many reviews liked neither the story nor the manner in which it was written. Perhaps I am different, because it was very enjoyable for me and I liked the old English terms and phrases within it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps the worst book I have ever read. This book is the reason I no longer wander around the library and pick up random display books.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book although the horse confused the heck out of me.. what is the point of it?

[Mj]

only the first one

[Milisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

So clever, interesting, and well written. I loved every page!

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, a little off the wall. I liked it though!