A Grand Man

The Mary Ann Series #1

by Catherine Cookson

'Me da's a grand man!' Mary Ann Shaughnessy has spoken; question her who dare. For although Mary Ann may look quite an ordinary small girl from a dockland tenement, always hot in defense of a ne'er-do-well father, she is in fact a one-man army, armoured with faith and possessed of formidable qualities.

Set on Tyneside, the part of the world which Catherine Cookson knew and understood so well, this heartwarming and humorously observed book skillfully weds an authentic and unsentimentalized background to the kind of fairytale story that we all like to believe could come true and which the Mary Ann Shaughnessys of this world know to be true.

The moral of A Grand Man is simply that faith can move mountains, but the delight of the book lies in the telling and in the character of its heroine as she battles, connives, and bargains to get a better way of life for those she loves and especially for the 'grand man' himself.

A Grand Man is the first of the Mary Ann stories and was made into a film, Jacqueline, in 1954.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, British Literature, Historical Romance

141 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

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

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved the Mary Ann books since I first read them when I was in my teens. There is something about them that touches my heart.
Mary Ann Shaughnessy lives with her ma Lizzie, her older brother Michael and her da Mike. The family used to live in a proper house but because her da often 'got sick' they had moved several times. With each move their home got smaller and now they live in two rooms in Mulhatten's Hall a tenement block on Tyneside. The whole street know that Mike is a drunk, they pity Lizzie and the children and some are spiteful gossips. Mary Ann however knows quite well what a grand man her da is and woe betide anyone who says different. She loves Mike with every fibre of her being and is like a sunflower always turned towards him. He loves Mary Ann deeply but does not seem to understand that he holds her fragile little heart in his huge fist; if he lets her down he will break her heart forever.
Mary Ann is eight years old, she is feisty, smart and an accomplished liar. She will swear black is white where her da is concerned and dare anyone to disagree. He most trusted friend is her parish priest Fr. Owen, who knows Mary Ann's troubles. When she goes to confession she pours out her heart to him, as she knows that all priests are 'struck blind' in the confessional and that he has no idea who she is, so she can tell him everything. Outside the confessional they have conversations about Mike in which she insists that he never takes a drop of drink, although sometimes he 'gets sick'; she even manages to manipulate Fr. Owen into agreeing with her!
Mike is so unhappy working in the local ship yards, he needs to work on a farm in the fresh air. If he is to get a job on a farm he needs a cottage so that he can take his family with him.
The owner of the local ship yard Mr. Lord or 'The Lord' to Mary Ann has reason to dislike Mike, because he tried to organise a work to rule at the yard.
Then Mike's drinking has a catastrophic effect on the family and things are looking hopeless for them all.
A job as a farm labourer becomes available and best of all it includes a cottage! One problem, it is on The Lord's farm. Does Mikes stand any chance of getting the job and saving his marriage?
A lovely book, easy to read.

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book. Yet another brilliant story by Catherine Cookson. Storytelling at it's best. Recommended.

[Stacey Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Grand Man kicks off the Mary Ann series by Catherine Cookson. I loved this story about a young girl and her deep love and devotion to her father, despite his frailties. It is a very short read, and I would highly recommend it, especially to fans of Cookson’s enchanting style of writing. ❤️🌹

[Teresa Creek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book told from the view of feisty little 8 year old Mary Ann Shaughnessy. Mary Ann tells charming "little lies" to impress saucy and unfortunately unlikeable Sarah Flannagan. There is a very special love between Mary Ann and her father Mike who is a "drunk." Mary Ann will never admit or let herself believe that he is drinking all of the time, but instead insists he's "sick" which everyone knows to be untrue. The unstable life that the family goes through as Mike's inability to maintain a job leaves them again and again in poverty due to his drunkenness and explosive temper. Mary Ann can face anything as long as she can talk to The Holy Family, and ask a special favor from them, and her priest Father Owen. Precocious Mary Ann goes or should we say breaks into the estate of Mr Lord to beg back a job for her father.....a new loving relationship is bonded and the story to follow is amazingly lovable.

This is book #1 in a series that I can't wait to finish up

[Chrisangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I defy anyone to read this and not be charmed by Mary Ann, it's just impossible. The book is a story of hardship, as well as of family and most of all, about the love a little girl has for her father, who, despite his faults, will always be "a grand man" to her. And she'll let anyone know who tries to deny it, always there to defend him, even when it's her own mother and brother who may beg to differ at times.

This book could be called a British "Tree grows in Brooklyn", because it tells kind of the same story: an alcoholic father, a mother who works hard to keep the family together, a girl who loves her father and always sees the good in him when others have trouble with that, and of course, minor characters thrown in to keep things lively. The difference is, Catherine Cookson is less depressing than Betty Smith, Mary Ann is a lot more cheerful than the somber Francie, and there's enough laughter to make up for the sad parts. Also, Mike and Liz, despite all their troubles, really love each other, lack of money, his drinking, interference from others, and even going their separate ways for a time, never changes that. You know they belong together, which was not the case with Katie and Johnny, who never should have gotten together from the start. Also, while it's clear her "da" has a special place in her heart, that doesn't take away from Mary Ann's love for her "ma", and Liz loves both her daughter and son equally, whereas Francie knew she was second best and could never get close to Katie.

But enough comparisons. Just read the book, and then the next in the series, another winner.

[Bettyblue · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This is my second reading of the first of the Mary Ann books. The first reading was decades ago as a flighty middle schooler who preferred hanging with the boys (I was a tomboy) in the neighborhood playing games of baseball, football or kick the can. My mom was the reader in our house and a big Catherine Cookson fan. Soon after she read this book and was onto the next in the series, she encouraged me to give Mary Ann a go. To my mom’s (and my) surprise and pleasure, I quickly became a Mary Ann fan… and my love of reading blossomed.

[Sheila (misty) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was 8, the same age as Mary Ann, it was classed as a children's book and was in the children's section of the library. I read all of them over the years and they were my favourite books. But if this book was published now. I wonder if it would be classed as a kids book.
Alcoholism, suicide attempt. Are just the first tw that come to mind.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read most of Catherine Cooksons books, but I saved the Mary Ann omnibus edition 1 and 2 for special treats.
Anyway, if you read any of her books, you must read A Grand Man. I was chuckling away one minute, and the next, I had tears running down my face. I can truly say Catherine Cooksons is my favourite author.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no more patience with Mike Shaughnessy this second reading than I had the first time around, some decades ago, and even less now than I had then with the Catholic church or religion in general. Ye gads and little fishes, what utter, cruel nonsense to inflict on a helpless child.

[Lyndsey Gollogly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girls love for her Da is priceless. Catherine Cookson brings live and determination to all her books. This is the first in the Mary Ann Shaughnessy books a little girls journey in a tough environment. Love this author.

[Mrs C L Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

A Very enjoyable read, looking forward to the next book in the series and all the other Mary Ann books

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book and will have to read the rest on the series now.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming and humorous love the spunk and antics of Mary Ann

[Angela Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story made me laugh & cry at the same time and think about how many young children in today's world who's lives are affected by alcoholic parents & religion makes one very sad.

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in a series of eight novels about a fiesty British girl named Mary Ann. In this first one, we are introduced to some of the main characters that I presume we will be seeing more of in the next seven. Mary Ann is eight years old in this one and she lives with her ma and da and brother, Michael. Across the street is a girl named Sarah Flannigan, Mary Ann's most hated enemy. Mary Ann's best friend would have to be Father Owen, a priest that she likes to confide in. And Mary Ann has a lot to tell Father Owen. Her father is an alcoholic and her mother is thinking of leaving him. But Mary Ann truly believes her da is a grand man and in between fighting with Sarah and sticking her tongue out the window, we see how devoted Mary Ann is to her father and very much in denial about his problem. Towards the end, however, Mary Ann sees the truth and she makes one last attempt to keep her parents together. Can this eight year old girl attain her father a job and a cottage and keep her parents together while she does so??

This is not up to Cookson's usual flair. It has a childish feel to it. I do not think the young adult crowd would quite understand the humor injected into tho. Thus, three stars.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like this book -- as well as all Catherine Cookson books. I've read her off and on since high school. This is a true picture of what a family goes thru with a "da" who is addicted to alcohol and gambling. It is told thru the eyes of the 8-year-old daughter, who is a very strong little girl for her age. She withstands the ridicule of her friends and neighbors and eventually -- relying on her faith and her own tenacity -- secures a job for her "da" on a local estate and farm. There is a surprise ending that I will not reveal. A good read -- one that makes you cheer for the little girl as she lives to overcome a very difficult upbringing and home environment.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Ann Shaughnessy is an irrepressible child of Tyneside in all her cheeky delightfulness who through a series of 8 books survives difficulties and adversity, growing up into adulthood to marry and have her own children.
A Grand Man, once described by Alan Melville in a broadcast as 'a quite enchanting novel, written by someone who obviously knows the mind of a child as well as she knows the mean back streets of Tyneside.'

[Jennifer Blaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is different than any book I have read. It's a quick read and I recommend it. We are reading it for book club and I am glad I'll have people to talk about it with. Can that much purposefully blind faith, loyality, love etc... really make that much of a difference? I have seen and known families affected by an alcoholic family member and it is too tragic and heartbreaking.

[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.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novel we are introduced to Mary Ann Shaughnessy a tiny girl full of personality and daring. Her escapades keep you laughing and it is hard to put down this book. Her meeting with Mr Lord had me in stitches. We are also introduced to Sarah Flannagan, Mary Ann's enemy who is always taunting her. Mary Ann doesn't like her Grannie either, but then who would. A fun book , lots of laughs.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Reminds me of A tree grows in brooklyn. This is a series and hard to find.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood favourite. Probably couldn't tolerate it now.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good historical fiction of hers, a heartwarming story of determination in the slums.

[Amy Franks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good historical fiction of hers, a heartwarming story of determination in the slums.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series as a young girl and they made such an impression on me that I still remember them vividly 35 years later!!!

[Jolayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in Ireland with an alcoholic but beloved father. I like all the books in the series but the later books are a little more grim with family disappointments.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's Catherine Cookson. Excellent character development, good story - you know =

[Karen C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember really enjoying this book.....read in 2011.

[Pol · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed book

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my normal sort of book and I thought it was boring. Just my opinion