What do you think?
Rate this book
A Ruthless Need
A Ruthless Need Cookson, Catherine
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
58 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cookson
458 books688 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 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 12, 2010
Another great book by Catherine Cookson...the master storyteller!!
October 28, 2009
I always enjoy Cookson novels as long as I don't overdose. Good WWII story.
July 1, 2018
Absolutely loved reading this book. Recommended.
July 22, 2025
Engrossing story. A bit dissatisfied by the penultimate section of the story.
November 26, 2022
Another good story with some complex characters, an engaging heroine and hero and a novel I very much enjoyed. Amongst one of my favourites. Takes place from 1937-mid 1940s.
SYNOPSIS:
On leave from the army in 1937, Sergeant-Major. Geoff Fulton comes to the rescue of 14-year-old waif Lizzie Gillespie, quashing her stepmother's scheme to make a whore of her. Geoff, whose father manages a country estate belonging to the Bradford-Brown family in County Durham, arranges for Lizzie to work in the Fulton household, where his mother takes her into the family, teaching her skills and helping her to get an education. Lizzie makes rapid progress, growing into a beautiful and accomplished young woman, and it isn't long before Andrew Bradford-Brown, heir to the estate, notices her and pledges to marry her against his parents wishes. When tragedy prevents him from keeping his promise and leaves Lizzie in difficulties, she turns to Geoff, who, injured in battle, has returned home. Geoff lets her believe he will marry her, but meanwhile takes up with Janis, Andrew's sister and Geoff's first lover, who has just divorced her horribly battle-scarred husband, Richard. Through the tender, growing relationship between Richard and Lizzie, Cookson uses the emotional fallout from war to illustrate how sacrifice and challenge bring out the best and worst in people. In this beautifully unaffected story of triumph over hardship, the author shows that character and integrity cut across all social barriers.
SYNOPSIS:
On leave from the army in 1937, Sergeant-Major. Geoff Fulton comes to the rescue of 14-year-old waif Lizzie Gillespie, quashing her stepmother's scheme to make a whore of her. Geoff, whose father manages a country estate belonging to the Bradford-Brown family in County Durham, arranges for Lizzie to work in the Fulton household, where his mother takes her into the family, teaching her skills and helping her to get an education. Lizzie makes rapid progress, growing into a beautiful and accomplished young woman, and it isn't long before Andrew Bradford-Brown, heir to the estate, notices her and pledges to marry her against his parents wishes. When tragedy prevents him from keeping his promise and leaves Lizzie in difficulties, she turns to Geoff, who, injured in battle, has returned home. Geoff lets her believe he will marry her, but meanwhile takes up with Janis, Andrew's sister and Geoff's first lover, who has just divorced her horribly battle-scarred husband, Richard. Through the tender, growing relationship between Richard and Lizzie, Cookson uses the emotional fallout from war to illustrate how sacrifice and challenge bring out the best and worst in people. In this beautifully unaffected story of triumph over hardship, the author shows that character and integrity cut across all social barriers.
January 8, 2016
I've read this book 5 times it's brilliant
May 22, 2017
I'll write a move comprehensive review later, but just wanted to say, egads I love this book.
It's not Cookson's finest work, and indeed the plot is formulaic and wooden, the same betrayals and revelations seen over and over in her books, but I don't mind formulaic if the end result makes me feel good. In fact, it's why I keep coming back to Cookson. The stories are all kind of the same in abstract senses. There is always somebody alone, there is always a betrayal, misguided love, and a true love hiding in plain sight.
Basically I loved the love story. I loved Richard in this. And his mother and father. The gratitude towards Lizzie, and his parents not so subtle matchmaking them together, despite the difference in their social status'. I love that Richard was genuinely pleased that Lizzie was carrying Andrew's child, and that Andrew could live on through this little girl. And that he wanted to be her father. My main complaints is that the dialogue was less than stellar, bit stiff and awkward, and Cookson falls prey to her tendency of beating a dead horse throughout. The sudden attitude shift from her adoptive parents was extremely jarring, but the Cookson formula requires some level of familial betrayal. Considering it pushed her to Scotland and to Richard and his family, I certainly didn't mind. I just liked the story of Lizzie being taken care of.
It's not Cookson's finest work, and indeed the plot is formulaic and wooden, the same betrayals and revelations seen over and over in her books, but I don't mind formulaic if the end result makes me feel good. In fact, it's why I keep coming back to Cookson. The stories are all kind of the same in abstract senses. There is always somebody alone, there is always a betrayal, misguided love, and a true love hiding in plain sight.
Basically I loved the love story. I loved Richard in this. And his mother and father. The gratitude towards Lizzie, and his parents not so subtle matchmaking them together, despite the difference in their social status'. I love that Richard was genuinely pleased that Lizzie was carrying Andrew's child, and that Andrew could live on through this little girl. And that he wanted to be her father. My main complaints is that the dialogue was less than stellar, bit stiff and awkward, and Cookson falls prey to her tendency of beating a dead horse throughout. The sudden attitude shift from her adoptive parents was extremely jarring, but the Cookson formula requires some level of familial betrayal. Considering it pushed her to Scotland and to Richard and his family, I certainly didn't mind. I just liked the story of Lizzie being taken care of.
January 18, 2012
Great story from a great author =]
July 28, 2014
Set in 1937 England, this story will lead the read through an emotional ride. Another Catherine Cookson great!
October 21, 2015
One of my favourites. ..read all her books and enjoy the more romantic ones.
Catherine Cookson- one of the best authors.
Catherine Cookson- one of the best authors.
June 5, 2016
3.5 Typical Catherine Cookson heroine, spirited young girl from the wrong side of the tracks, let down by her family, but eventually makes good. Nice twist at the end.
February 6, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
My second Catherine Cookson novel. Found an enjoyable to hold hardcover version at my local op shop for a bargain $3.00.
There’s something about her writing that I really do enjoy. I wouldn’t want it in huge doses however sprinkled in now and then, her way of telling a story can easily transport me into the world of her plot.
I think what I enjoyed about this one particular story is that I was able to get a glimpse into multiple worlds of the characters and somewhere in my heart found compassion for the majority of them. Kind of like that saying which goes: “there isn’t a person you couldn’t love if you knew their story” well Cookson has the ability to do this for me throughout both the stories I’ve read her from so far. I wonder if it’s like that with her other reads too?
Even though I liked the sweet and amiable Lizzie, I even more warmed to the gentle and oh so kind Richard Boneford and his family. To go through what he went through and still carry himself with such a genteel stride surrounded by his jovial, warm and loving Scottish family circle was one of my favourite parts of the story especially Lizzie’s first visit to the Bonefords at Beckside Hall in Durham. I love his parents James & Edith particularly the way that Edith approaches Lizzie in her bedroom after spending three hours with them upon her arrival to their place.
📕 once seated she did not begin to talk, but stared at Lizzie for some seconds, and then she said, “You will have been puzzled at the charade you’ve witnessed since your arrival….well, my dear, I feel I must explain. You see, it’s a kind of plat we indulge in. We’re all in it. We all have our parts, particularly James and Phyllis, as you have no doubt noticed. It’s for Richard. We pretend everything is as normal as before the war” ……..”You have no idea what it was like when he first came home. He hid himself away like some wounded animal. Yet his face has much improved from when we first saw it in hospital. And what I’ve told myself time and time again, and even said to him: there are so many men worse off than himself, and at least he has part of his face as it was. What broke him up finally was when Janis couldn’t bear to look at him, couldn’t bear even to be near him. He was absolutely torn apart at that time. It was about that time that I first heard of you. We were sitting having tea in the drawing-room, just as were were today and he looked at me and said “I came across a young girl last week who looked me straight in the face, Mother; not a nurse, not one of the hospital crowd but an ordinary girl from outside”. Then she added - she now bent forward and touched Lizzie’s hand - “But she wasn’t an ordinary girl, she was beautiful, and she looked me straight in the face; and I could tell by her eyes she was t forcing herself; nor did she turn her head away; and we talked”That….that was the first time he met you.
📕 As Lizzie was about to speak again the phone clicked. She gave a gasp, put her have to her throat as if she were choking, dropped the receiver on to the stand, then turned and ran across the hall, continued to run up the stairs and into the bedroom; and there, flinging herself on the bed, she gave way to a paroxysm of weeping. Meg had followed her, and when she reached the bed she didn’t touch her but sat on the foot and let her cry it out, and not until the sound of her sobbing subsided did she put her hands on Lizzie’s shoulder, saying “There it’s out of you. Now to business. You can sort out the stuff that you need to take with you and have the rest sent on”
📕 It was quite true what old Meg had said in one of her bits of raw philosophy; a man didn’t only want a wife; she had to be a mother, housekeeper, and loose woman all in one.
📕 ….”but things are not right here are they? Do you mind if I open me mouth a bit wider?”….”No Meg, as wide as you like”
📕….”But liking and loving aren’t the same thing” “D’you know somethin’? I’m goin’ to tell you: me mother had a hell of a life with da. He could drink like a stranded whale. I said to her one, “why do you stick it? Why don’t you walk out on him! You don’t love him. You can’t. And she said “no I suppose not; but I like him, and I’ve found thats much more lastin’ than love” I was young at the time when she said it to me. I didn’t believe it, but I proved it meself years later. If you start such lovin’ somebody and yet know they’re not companion- like, it’s rarely that you grow to like them. But if you start liking them, nine times out of ten you end up by lovin’ them. But then again there’s all stages of love. Eeh! Here I go on.
My second Catherine Cookson novel. Found an enjoyable to hold hardcover version at my local op shop for a bargain $3.00.
There’s something about her writing that I really do enjoy. I wouldn’t want it in huge doses however sprinkled in now and then, her way of telling a story can easily transport me into the world of her plot.
I think what I enjoyed about this one particular story is that I was able to get a glimpse into multiple worlds of the characters and somewhere in my heart found compassion for the majority of them. Kind of like that saying which goes: “there isn’t a person you couldn’t love if you knew their story” well Cookson has the ability to do this for me throughout both the stories I’ve read her from so far. I wonder if it’s like that with her other reads too?
Even though I liked the sweet and amiable Lizzie, I even more warmed to the gentle and oh so kind Richard Boneford and his family. To go through what he went through and still carry himself with such a genteel stride surrounded by his jovial, warm and loving Scottish family circle was one of my favourite parts of the story especially Lizzie’s first visit to the Bonefords at Beckside Hall in Durham. I love his parents James & Edith particularly the way that Edith approaches Lizzie in her bedroom after spending three hours with them upon her arrival to their place.
📕 once seated she did not begin to talk, but stared at Lizzie for some seconds, and then she said, “You will have been puzzled at the charade you’ve witnessed since your arrival….well, my dear, I feel I must explain. You see, it’s a kind of plat we indulge in. We’re all in it. We all have our parts, particularly James and Phyllis, as you have no doubt noticed. It’s for Richard. We pretend everything is as normal as before the war” ……..”You have no idea what it was like when he first came home. He hid himself away like some wounded animal. Yet his face has much improved from when we first saw it in hospital. And what I’ve told myself time and time again, and even said to him: there are so many men worse off than himself, and at least he has part of his face as it was. What broke him up finally was when Janis couldn’t bear to look at him, couldn’t bear even to be near him. He was absolutely torn apart at that time. It was about that time that I first heard of you. We were sitting having tea in the drawing-room, just as were were today and he looked at me and said “I came across a young girl last week who looked me straight in the face, Mother; not a nurse, not one of the hospital crowd but an ordinary girl from outside”. Then she added - she now bent forward and touched Lizzie’s hand - “But she wasn’t an ordinary girl, she was beautiful, and she looked me straight in the face; and I could tell by her eyes she was t forcing herself; nor did she turn her head away; and we talked”That….that was the first time he met you.
📕 As Lizzie was about to speak again the phone clicked. She gave a gasp, put her have to her throat as if she were choking, dropped the receiver on to the stand, then turned and ran across the hall, continued to run up the stairs and into the bedroom; and there, flinging herself on the bed, she gave way to a paroxysm of weeping. Meg had followed her, and when she reached the bed she didn’t touch her but sat on the foot and let her cry it out, and not until the sound of her sobbing subsided did she put her hands on Lizzie’s shoulder, saying “There it’s out of you. Now to business. You can sort out the stuff that you need to take with you and have the rest sent on”
📕 It was quite true what old Meg had said in one of her bits of raw philosophy; a man didn’t only want a wife; she had to be a mother, housekeeper, and loose woman all in one.
📕 ….”but things are not right here are they? Do you mind if I open me mouth a bit wider?”….”No Meg, as wide as you like”
📕….”But liking and loving aren’t the same thing” “D’you know somethin’? I’m goin’ to tell you: me mother had a hell of a life with da. He could drink like a stranded whale. I said to her one, “why do you stick it? Why don’t you walk out on him! You don’t love him. You can’t. And she said “no I suppose not; but I like him, and I’ve found thats much more lastin’ than love” I was young at the time when she said it to me. I didn’t believe it, but I proved it meself years later. If you start such lovin’ somebody and yet know they’re not companion- like, it’s rarely that you grow to like them. But if you start liking them, nine times out of ten you end up by lovin’ them. But then again there’s all stages of love. Eeh! Here I go on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2021
She knows how to write a good book
Catherine Cookson is one of my favorite authors. She really knows how to write a good book. She doesn’t concentrate on the elite of that time period, but on the common person.
Catherine Cookson is one of my favorite authors. She really knows how to write a good book. She doesn’t concentrate on the elite of that time period, but on the common person.
November 12, 2025
This was great, and so realistic, as usual for Cookson. So glad it ended the way it ended - wasn't sure I liked where it was going in the middle. A little sad about how things were left with the Fulton family, but....realistic.
January 24, 2022
Could not get into it.
Read
August 24, 2023Wasn't my cup of tea. The front part felt trivial... and well, there was an unexpected ending... and yes, theoretically it's the more profound ending... but I didn't find it really satisfying.
November 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this non-cliche story with strong characters. I like Cookson's strong women in particular.
October 29, 2015
I love reading books in which the challenges my predictions every once in a while. This is what Catherine does to me in yet another classic of hers. She creates Lizzie and I love her. The wit employed by the author amidst the socially serious and sensitive story is amazing even when Geoff tries to be presented as one whose humor has been affected by the army. I must say that this book reminds me of classics like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.
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.
August 6, 2016
Average... I read one other Catherine Cookson before this and found it pretty good. This is the second one,I found it slightly repetitive.. probably because both are in the same rural English settings and even the characters seemed very similar. so, it got a bit boring...
July 31, 2011
I have never read Catherine Cookson but I actually really enjoyed this book it was actually a really good story that kept me reading!
Read
April 15, 2015I enjoyed this light read by Catherine Cookson. Quite a bit predictable and nothing much new from her other books
Read
February 10, 2016Typical good story and interesting characters. It certainly keeps ones interest throughout!
June 30, 2016
The book summary describes the plot and themes well so I don't need to elaborate. Cookson always seems to deliver engaging stories and complex characters that I really enjoy.
October 12, 2024
The second time I have read this one, it's still as good three years later.
I have all of Catherine Cooksons books and read them all. It's nice to come back and have another read, a few years later.
I have all of Catherine Cooksons books and read them all. It's nice to come back and have another read, a few years later.
April 29, 2017
Catherine Cookson has written 104 books - determined to read all of them :)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews