What do you think?
Rate this book
The Parson's Daughter
The Victorian Sabbath was not without its difficulties for some of those committed to its observance. Such a one was Nancy Ann Hazel, the young and high-spirited daughter of a country parson. He was a good man and she loved him dearly, but his Sunday sermons could seem long indeed when beyond the church door the sunshine beckoned her into the fields of this pleasant corner of County Durham.
Two older brothers had taught Nancy Ann how to look after herself, so that she could, when necessary, hold her own with the roughest of the village children, eventhough such escapades might not be considered altogether fitting in a daughter of the vicarage; but they foreshadowed the courage and fortitude she would soon enough have to muster when the greater challenges of a controversial marriage thrust her into womanhood, and when conflict and tragedy alike had to be faced and overcome.
THE PARSON'S DAUGHTER is a major novel spanning the last quarter of the nineteenth century and introduces one of Catherine Cookson's most memorable heroines. Its strong and vibrant narrative will captivate this great storyteller's readers throughout the world.
Two older brothers had taught Nancy Ann how to look after herself, so that she could, when necessary, hold her own with the roughest of the village children, eventhough such escapades might not be considered altogether fitting in a daughter of the vicarage; but they foreshadowed the courage and fortitude she would soon enough have to muster when the greater challenges of a controversial marriage thrust her into womanhood, and when conflict and tragedy alike had to be faced and overcome.
THE PARSON'S DAUGHTER is a major novel spanning the last quarter of the nineteenth century and introduces one of Catherine Cookson's most memorable heroines. Its strong and vibrant narrative will captivate this great storyteller's readers throughout the world.
389 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
70 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cookson
457 books689 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 9, 2025
It was really interesting from the very beginning, even though romantic novel from the 19th century is not my favourite kind of books, but I still wanted to give it a try.
My favourite Nancy Ann is the girl one. She looks very independent and special. As a child, she had everything very clear and she was so mature for her age. Also, she had her two brothers who took care of her so much.
As she becomes a woman, love goes into her life, and I personally think she lost that independence that made her so special; she went backwards. And yes, if we base on the time the book was written, it makes sense, since it was a totally different time and society, especially the rich one in the UK.
In the middle of the book it gets kind of... I don't know if boring, but slow. I want to say why, but on the other hand, I don't want to spoil.
If you have some free time and nothing to do, you might give it a try, especially if you are into love novels.
My favourite Nancy Ann is the girl one. She looks very independent and special. As a child, she had everything very clear and she was so mature for her age. Also, she had her two brothers who took care of her so much.
As she becomes a woman, love goes into her life, and I personally think she lost that independence that made her so special; she went backwards. And yes, if we base on the time the book was written, it makes sense, since it was a totally different time and society, especially the rich one in the UK.
In the middle of the book it gets kind of... I don't know if boring, but slow. I want to say why, but on the other hand, I don't want to spoil.
If you have some free time and nothing to do, you might give it a try, especially if you are into love novels.
September 8, 2014
A firm favourite, this author never disappoints. I always love the way the characters are so real and jump off the page. The Parson's Daughter is no exception, and we see Nancy Ann grow from child to girl to woman and live with her through the journey she takes with love, guilt, remorse and many other human emotions.
I also like that, although we are reading Nancy Ann's journey, we also see through eyes of other characters, so to give balance and more depth to the story.
I never give spoilers so it's always difficult to say much, especially when it's such a good story, this time taking place in England in the late 19th century. This author has an abundance of knowledge of the status and wide gap between the rich and poor and the many supposedly civilised notions of what is right and wrong in that era. The arrogance of the rich is astounding, and very real, whereas the poor struggle the same as they do today, as people never change regardless of laws - despite the massive improvements that have been made over the years...attitudes, it could be said, never change.
Overall a fantastic read that pulls the reader from beginning to end.
Highly recommended.
I also like that, although we are reading Nancy Ann's journey, we also see through eyes of other characters, so to give balance and more depth to the story.
I never give spoilers so it's always difficult to say much, especially when it's such a good story, this time taking place in England in the late 19th century. This author has an abundance of knowledge of the status and wide gap between the rich and poor and the many supposedly civilised notions of what is right and wrong in that era. The arrogance of the rich is astounding, and very real, whereas the poor struggle the same as they do today, as people never change regardless of laws - despite the massive improvements that have been made over the years...attitudes, it could be said, never change.
Overall a fantastic read that pulls the reader from beginning to end.
Highly recommended.
November 28, 2017
Loved this book. Written some time ago but still amazing. Highly recommended.
December 5, 2015
I read this in high school and it was my favourite book ever. Almost thirty years later I wasn't expecting to make it past page 50. I remembered very little about the book, I enjoyed it, probably not as much as the first time around, but I'm giving it three stars because I still liked it and another because I loved it as a 15 year old.
March 15, 2016
I love when I discover an author previously unknown to me. This author was mentioned in a book I read recently. So I thought okay I'll check her out. To my surprise this author writes sweet romances, meaning the bedroom things are left to the imagination. I like this as I really can do without 4 pages describing every bit of what should be private in my opinion. This book did a very good job of bringing the characters to life. I also like the occasional switch of viewpoint to that of other people in the story. Also, I liked following Nancy Ann from childhood to mature woman who has been through a lot. I laughed and cried along with the heroine. I loved that the good, bad and ugly were in pretty equal measure. I don't like spoilers so I do my best not to give the plot away. Enjoy.
January 2, 2020
Sometimes you need a little Catherine Cookson in your life.
September 27, 2017
A situation of the right book at the right time. This book was an escape for me, just a fun read that didn't involve gratuitous language and sex to tell a very adult story. Sometimes I feel like anything written in the past forty years that is considered "adult" must have the required explicit sex and or language (unless it is a "cozy mystery" or Christian/Amish fiction).
June 8, 2011
Yes....well i found it somewhere and started reading it...it was so captivating..all the aora,events and situations created are so insipring but at the end i just didn't feel so satisfied...the realtionship once goes inclined towards a man with whom the mother has a history; by the daughter..anyhow the novel gave me a great entertaining time and surly catherine cookson is among my WANTED writers now..:-)
June 5, 2020
I found this book in a free pile when we were in Latvia. The cover was torn off, and I picked it up, not knowing what joy I'd find inside. This is a beautiful, heart-breaking story about family, and love, and loss. The Parson's Daughter is a beautiful book. Highly recommend!
October 28, 2018
It took her a while but she finally found a husband she liked.
August 31, 2024
This book is one of my all time favourite, return to again and again stories.
I was first introduced to Catherine Cookson by my mother who was an avid fan all her short adult life. She unforgettably made my father promise, on her deathbed, to save her books for her daughters to read one day. I was nine. And over the next 10 years I devoured one after another, trying in my own way to somehow get closer to my mother.
At 35 now myself, I can safely say my mother's dramatic saga genre is definitely not one I favour. And yet.... this book I come back to time after time. At one point I even think I had three copies because I kept buying them in charity shops when away on holiday for something familiar to read!
But seriously, why has it stuck with me? For starters, I find that the heroine, Nancy Ann, is such a well written character that you empathise with her from the first chapter. Then, being a saga as it is, I think it is easy to notice in every Part a character or situation which you can relate to - from the deepest love to even deeper tragedy.
It is such a page turner that even here, around 20 years after my first read, I have just finished all 511 pages in one sitting.
If you're new to Cookson, I recommend this as a starting point. If you're a life long fan, you'll know why this was a best seller and considered one of her best.
I was first introduced to Catherine Cookson by my mother who was an avid fan all her short adult life. She unforgettably made my father promise, on her deathbed, to save her books for her daughters to read one day. I was nine. And over the next 10 years I devoured one after another, trying in my own way to somehow get closer to my mother.
At 35 now myself, I can safely say my mother's dramatic saga genre is definitely not one I favour. And yet.... this book I come back to time after time. At one point I even think I had three copies because I kept buying them in charity shops when away on holiday for something familiar to read!
But seriously, why has it stuck with me? For starters, I find that the heroine, Nancy Ann, is such a well written character that you empathise with her from the first chapter. Then, being a saga as it is, I think it is easy to notice in every Part a character or situation which you can relate to - from the deepest love to even deeper tragedy.
It is such a page turner that even here, around 20 years after my first read, I have just finished all 511 pages in one sitting.
If you're new to Cookson, I recommend this as a starting point. If you're a life long fan, you'll know why this was a best seller and considered one of her best.
October 6, 2017
I think Catherine Cookson has an obsession with the name Ann. Of her books ive read i've read about 4 with the name Ann in some variation like Marie-Ann Nancy-Ann and such. :)
Anyway this had a bit too much hurried extravagant drama in it. I didnt like that she married Dennision and he died then she marries Graham and off he went too, and the she married David and i half expected hime to die too but the book finished (much to my relief). The story could have been so beautiful. (Careful Death spoilers ahead :) )
And the death count was too high for my liking
1. Her Mother Rebecca
2. Her Father John
3. Her son William
4. Her 1st husband Denny
5. Her 2nd Husband Graham
I was surprised her grandma was still alive since the plot was mainly to take away the people close to her(or at least thats what i felt)
Anyway this had a bit too much hurried extravagant drama in it. I didnt like that she married Dennision and he died then she marries Graham and off he went too, and the she married David and i half expected hime to die too but the book finished (much to my relief). The story could have been so beautiful. (Careful Death spoilers ahead :) )
And the death count was too high for my liking
1. Her Mother Rebecca
2. Her Father John
3. Her son William
4. Her 1st husband Denny
5. Her 2nd Husband Graham
I was surprised her grandma was still alive since the plot was mainly to take away the people close to her(or at least thats what i felt)
August 19, 2020
How have I just found Catherine Cookson! If you loved Victoria Holt as a young woman you will LOVE Catherine Cookson. It is a more mature read. This is my second Cookson book and I practically devoured this book. We followed the main character Nancy Ann who is the local vicar's daughter from young teens through adulthood. We fell in love, we dealt with serious martial issues, hurts, friendships and learning how to become the woman she was to be. At times I cried, my heart physically hurt and at times I laughed out loud. This is set in the late 1800s and in rural UK. Nancy Ann had to deal with social class and finally being heard. This is such a good book. I ended it feeling like somewhere Nancy Ann is out there living her life.
July 21, 2022
A most satisfying story of a woman raised in a vicarage and married to a man with a reputation for gambling and womanising. I especially enjoyed reading about the estate she was responsible for managing, and absorbing the author's sense of things taking time to unfold, balance out and reach their fulfilment.
September 3, 2024
I have read several of Catherine Cookson's books and have enjoyed them all but this one has been the absolute best! Timeless lessons to be learned and remembered, characters and personalities to identify with, twist and turns to stir emotions from tears to laughter.....best book I've read in a long time.
May 17, 2023
DNF
I liked the first half of the book, but then it just began to draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag. The character of Graham is little more than a place filler, and I lost interest after that point.
I liked the first half of the book, but then it just began to draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag. The character of Graham is little more than a place filler, and I lost interest after that point.
February 24, 2018
I love, love, loved this book! Excellent story line, amazing characters, a real page turner! Catherine Cookson is such a great story teller :)
November 12, 2018
Was an easy read and hard to put down. Plot was very predictable.
April 23, 2020
Quite a good book got some sad parts but also some happy parts to this book
May 24, 2021
Enjoyed it, but, was a lot like one of her other I've just read. Same sort of thing, wife in love with someone else and eventually ends up with him. Still good though. Well written, good characters.
August 7, 2021
Loved it from start to finish! You go through lots of emotions while reading: i found myself crying and laughing.
May 22, 2022
Another smashing read from Catherine Cookson.
October 20, 2023
one of her best books - but then I say that about so many of hers.
November 12, 2023
A moving story. Rushed at the end and some of Nancy-Ann's choices and reactions were strange but this was very fulfilling.
January 3, 2024
I’ve almost read all of Catherine Cookson books , this one has been my favorite.
July 12, 2024
I absolutely adored this story. It was heart wrenching at times but so satisfying.
May 23, 2024
She never disappoints
March 16, 2010
This is set in victoria england. This shows the difference in class. Nancy Ann is a vicar's daughter and a bit of a tomboy. She learnt how to look after herself by her brothers which was useful when it came to the McLoughlins. Nancy Ann's mother was dying and she wanted her to marry mr Harpcore even though her husband didn't because Mr Harpcore drank and gambelled. Nancy Ann did marry him and he changed because of this except for one thing. Years earlier his younger brother whom he loved dearly wanted to marry one of the house servants because he loved her and she was pregnant but he said no. His younger brother died and the young boy born to the servant lived in the roof of the house and he wasn't allowed to be seen by the master. Nany Ann meet this young man once before she was married and then again when she caught in the nusrey with Rebecca her own child. Nancy took a liking to david and through presuasion he was allowed to go to school, and he only came into the house when the master wasn't there. Years later nancy's son also died in the river and david had rescued him. Harpcore did not handle the death of his son very well and through drink and gambelling he became bankrupt. Before this happened Nancy had caught him with his old mistress in the house and she fought with her and threw her on to the balconey naked and threw her clothes onto the ground. Nancy only came back to him if she had the run of the house and she got rid of some of the servants that was in on getting the mistress into the house.
Harpcore always maintained that is was drugged and that was how he bet so carelessly. David had bought the old house and he found Harpcore in the grounds dead he had committed suicide. Nancy Ann then married mr mercer and was very happy but she always thought of david who was in Australia. Mr Mercer died later and David returned and asked her to marry him.
Harpcore always maintained that is was drugged and that was how he bet so carelessly. David had bought the old house and he found Harpcore in the grounds dead he had committed suicide. Nancy Ann then married mr mercer and was very happy but she always thought of david who was in Australia. Mr Mercer died later and David returned and asked her to marry him.
September 17, 2009
The parson's daughter is Nancy Ann. She comes from a sheltered home consisting of her pious parents, a fiesty grandma, and two brothers. Her little cocoon of safety is threatened, however, by a wealthy man old enough to be her father that desires her hand in marriage. His name is Dennison and he loves to gamble and womanize, but he has his heart set on making the young, free spirited, and innocent Nancy Ann his wife.
Despite her father's wishes, Nancy Ann marries Dennison. After Nancy's childhood mishaps and a few "get to know everybody" chapters, the novel focuses on Nancy and Denny's trying relationship. Nancy was a passing fancy for Denny. Denny is a spoiled brat that cannot change his bachelor ways and he chooses to lay the blame at everybody's door but his own, mainly at Nancy's. There is a lot of drama involving Denny's nephew, a few deaths in the family, and as usual with a Cookson novel, household servants that do not take too kindly to the lady "upstart" in their domain.
The parson's daughter has a few surprises up her sleeve tho. She doesn't turn the other cheek as one may expect. I laughed and cheered for her a few times as she used either her wit or her fists to defend herself from some less than savory characters.
Will Denny and Nancy's marriage survive a meddling mistress, the loss of a child, or even bankruptcy?
Four stars instead of five because I found myself infuriated with a lot of the choices Nancy makes.
Despite her father's wishes, Nancy Ann marries Dennison. After Nancy's childhood mishaps and a few "get to know everybody" chapters, the novel focuses on Nancy and Denny's trying relationship. Nancy was a passing fancy for Denny. Denny is a spoiled brat that cannot change his bachelor ways and he chooses to lay the blame at everybody's door but his own, mainly at Nancy's. There is a lot of drama involving Denny's nephew, a few deaths in the family, and as usual with a Cookson novel, household servants that do not take too kindly to the lady "upstart" in their domain.
The parson's daughter has a few surprises up her sleeve tho. She doesn't turn the other cheek as one may expect. I laughed and cheered for her a few times as she used either her wit or her fists to defend herself from some less than savory characters.
Will Denny and Nancy's marriage survive a meddling mistress, the loss of a child, or even bankruptcy?
Four stars instead of five because I found myself infuriated with a lot of the choices Nancy makes.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews