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Promises
The generosity of a stranger enables young Lily to escape her bleak future in a turn-of-the-century English mill town to become the wife of a handsome war hero and mistress of a grand manor
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
242 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Gaskin
93 books71 followersCatherine Gaskin (2 April 1929 – 6 September 2009) historical fiction and romantic suspense.
She was born in Dundalk Bay, Louth, Ireland in 1929. When she was only three months old, her parents moved to Australia, settling in Coogee, a suburb of Sydney, where she grew up. Her first novel This Other Eden, was written when she was 15 and published two years later. After her second novel, With Every Year, was published, she moved to London. Three best-sellers followed: Dust in Sunlight (1950), All Else is Folly (1951), and Daughter of the House (1952). She completed her best known work, Sara Dane, on her 25th birthday in 1954, and it was published in 1955. It sold more than 2 million copies, was translated into a number of other languages, and was made into a television series in Australia in 1982. Other novels included A Falcon for the Queen (1972) and The Summer of the Spanish Woman (1977).
Catherine Gaskin moved to Manhattan for ten years, after marrying an American. She then moved to the Virgin Islands, then in 1967 to Ireland, where she became an Irish citizen. She also lived on the Isle of Man. Her last novel was The Charmed Circle (1988). She then returned to Sydney, where she died in September 2009, aged 80, of ovarian cancer.
She was born in Dundalk Bay, Louth, Ireland in 1929. When she was only three months old, her parents moved to Australia, settling in Coogee, a suburb of Sydney, where she grew up. Her first novel This Other Eden, was written when she was 15 and published two years later. After her second novel, With Every Year, was published, she moved to London. Three best-sellers followed: Dust in Sunlight (1950), All Else is Folly (1951), and Daughter of the House (1952). She completed her best known work, Sara Dane, on her 25th birthday in 1954, and it was published in 1955. It sold more than 2 million copies, was translated into a number of other languages, and was made into a television series in Australia in 1982. Other novels included A Falcon for the Queen (1972) and The Summer of the Spanish Woman (1977).
Catherine Gaskin moved to Manhattan for ten years, after marrying an American. She then moved to the Virgin Islands, then in 1967 to Ireland, where she became an Irish citizen. She also lived on the Isle of Man. Her last novel was The Charmed Circle (1988). She then returned to Sydney, where she died in September 2009, aged 80, of ovarian cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 24, 2012
This has been one of my favourite books so far, i have read it over and over again. I loved Lally's strength, determination and i cried at her sadness. I first read this book over 20 years ago and it is still imprinted in my mind.
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August 4, 2016tremendos reading, Enthralling. keeping the reader anxious and anticipating - yet all the time knowing what the end would be but in no way spoiling any of the story. Brilliant.
March 9, 2012
In 1900, John Pollack rescued a very sick young girl from the side of the road, in Yorkshire, England and took her home to be a sister to his two children, Jon and Margaret. He wanted to do this for her because he knew if he left her where she laid she wouldn't have lived to see the next day. He adopted her and raised her as Lally. By this one act of kindness he changed the entire destiny of the Pollack family. Lally regained her health and grew up in this privileged family where she secretly made a promise to herself to always put her father, brother and sister best interests first. It was this promise that not only made her the strongest member of this family but shaped and determined her life choices throughout the novel. This is a very complicated story of family love and values. There is much drama through the story and continuing drastic things that happen to this family because of their different personalities. Their love of each other holds them together through rough times in this romantic novel of early twentieth century England.
It is impossible to go into detail about this novel without creating spoilers so I will just say that it deserves every one of the 5 stars that I gave it and even more. This novel is right up there with my favorites that I have ever read and it is amazing to me that there has not been a reprint of this wonderful novel. It is however, out of print and may be hard to come by at the library. I got the one and only copy that my library had. There are also a few copies available on paperbackswap.com and bookmooch.com
It is impossible to go into detail about this novel without creating spoilers so I will just say that it deserves every one of the 5 stars that I gave it and even more. This novel is right up there with my favorites that I have ever read and it is amazing to me that there has not been a reprint of this wonderful novel. It is however, out of print and may be hard to come by at the library. I got the one and only copy that my library had. There are also a few copies available on paperbackswap.com and bookmooch.com
July 29, 2024
Also. Am Anfang mochte ich das Buch ziemlich gerne und ich fand die Geschichte interessant. Aber dann fand ich, dass die Autorin angefangen hat, etwas zu übertreiben und ausserdem fand ich Lally nicht so relatable, weil sie immer so schnell über Sachen hinweggekommen ist. Z.B. sie hat Angst vor irgendwas, Jack sagt nein ist nichts, sie hat direkt keine Angst mehr. Aber ich fand es gut, dass sie sonst so eine stolze Frau war, die dann auch mit Susie dieses Geschäft aufgebaut hat. Leider fand ich das Ende dann etwas zu weit hergeholt. Erst stirbt Jon, dann die Mutter, dann das Kind, dann Margaret etc etc. Und dass Lally dann mit Brock zusammengekommen ist, fand ich auch total seltsam. Aber ich konnte es nicht aus der Hand legen, von dem her 3,5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2021
I loved this author's book "The Summer of the Spanish Woman" and so expected to feel the same about this one. Things started out fine and I was on board with the story line and characters. But the novel "jumped the shark" to me when the author asks you to believe a mentally challenged young woman could shake off the effects of drugs to make her sleep and ease the pain of burns to drag two little boys into the Long Island Sound with tragic consequences. And the plot just became more ridiculous after that as ultimately a two time felon/murderer somehow wins the heart of our heroine and they live happily ever after. An utter and unbelievable disappointment.
January 26, 2023
I know this isn't high literature, but I really enjoyed reading this book. At times it reminded me of The Great Gatsby or Downton Abbey and I think towards the end there was a bit too much drama. But it was still a page turner.
Lally Leeds was a foundling. Black Jack Pollock, mill and mine owner from Leeds nearly runs her over in his carriage. He decides to bring the poor child home and raise her as his own. Lally's life is bound to her foster family and the promise made to be there for them no matter what. That promise is tested sorely as the years pass. Will Lally ever be able to live for herself?
Lally Leeds was a foundling. Black Jack Pollock, mill and mine owner from Leeds nearly runs her over in his carriage. He decides to bring the poor child home and raise her as his own. Lally's life is bound to her foster family and the promise made to be there for them no matter what. That promise is tested sorely as the years pass. Will Lally ever be able to live for herself?
February 26, 2018
The plot is undoubtedly fascinating and vivacious. It was difficult for me to finish this because it is not the usual genre I read and it's story is sad. It is like Game of thrones, people in every next chapter are dying. The death of Jon, Jonathan, Margaret and rape of Alice are worst parts of this novel.
Well it is clear after reading this novel, why Britishers or westerners are spoiled. Drinking and party are two reasons they are alive. And I am not reading any Romance and Drama genre book again.
Well it is clear after reading this novel, why Britishers or westerners are spoiled. Drinking and party are two reasons they are alive. And I am not reading any Romance and Drama genre book again.
April 7, 2022
Probably more like 2 1/2 stars. It started off promising, but then Lally turned into a bit of a Sue. She had a whole bunch of tragedies happen to her and she survived with her spunk intact. Some bits were rather cliched and the whole bit with her mother seemed thrown in there for convenience's sake. At times I kept thinking "For god's sake, another tragedy?"
Still, it wasn't THAT bad and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes family sagas set in the time period of just before WWI and into the 1920s.
Still, it wasn't THAT bad and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes family sagas set in the time period of just before WWI and into the 1920s.
July 17, 2022
Still one of my favorite books...
I first read this as a Reader's Digest condensed book when I was really just a child. So much of it eluded me then that, as an adult, makes this such a great story. Catherine Gaskin's ability to create complex characters that you both love and hate is truly exceptional. There's petty drama but not melodrama. And set against WWI with the end of a way of life is perfect; the tragedies of the characters mirrors the end of an era, the too violent, too abrupt upheaval of society we're still struggling with.
I first read this as a Reader's Digest condensed book when I was really just a child. So much of it eluded me then that, as an adult, makes this such a great story. Catherine Gaskin's ability to create complex characters that you both love and hate is truly exceptional. There's petty drama but not melodrama. And set against WWI with the end of a way of life is perfect; the tragedies of the characters mirrors the end of an era, the too violent, too abrupt upheaval of society we're still struggling with.
July 19, 2017
Sweeping family saga
This was a long and dramatic journey, filled with interesting characters, well worth reading. Lally's life, her lives and losses, from rags to riches entwined with so much history and drama.
This was a long and dramatic journey, filled with interesting characters, well worth reading. Lally's life, her lives and losses, from rags to riches entwined with so much history and drama.
July 7, 2017
Tear jerker
Extremely well written, fast passed book.
Characters have a depth that draw you in.
Amazing story line that had you sucked in from the first chapter.
Extremely well written, fast passed book.
Characters have a depth that draw you in.
Amazing story line that had you sucked in from the first chapter.
February 8, 2019
Great read
Catherine Gaskin always is a great read, with twists and turns, this book i really enjoyed, I would recommend it to anyone .
Catherine Gaskin always is a great read, with twists and turns, this book i really enjoyed, I would recommend it to anyone .
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July 8, 20191900-1929 England about an orphan, Lally, who grows up in Yorkshire with a rich family. A lot of WWI nursing.
March 27, 2020
A great read, recommended.
June 6, 2020
A big read at 533 pages. Fantastic characters - someone to love, someone to dislike, someone to pity, someone to admire. Good times - bad times - this book has everything! A great read.
September 29, 2021
Great read!
I really enjoyed this, good story and interesting characters. Easy to read, I recommend it, perfect for cold day in front of a fire!
I really enjoyed this, good story and interesting characters. Easy to read, I recommend it, perfect for cold day in front of a fire!
May 14, 2022
An old favorite!
I first read this book in my 30s. Loved it then, love it now! Gaskins' characters are fleshed out beautifully and one feels that they are very real people.
I first read this book in my 30s. Loved it then, love it now! Gaskins' characters are fleshed out beautifully and one feels that they are very real people.
May 31, 2023
Promises
Best book I have read in a long long time.
Going to look for more books from this fantastic author
Best book I have read in a long long time.
Going to look for more books from this fantastic author
July 11, 2023
Sehr gut geschrieben. Ich fühlte mich wie ein Zuschauer vor Ort.
June 19, 2016
I first read this as a keen 9 year old skimming through my dad's vast collection of Readers Digest condensed novels to find something interesting for the dreary winter evenings to read. I read it a few times over the years and eventually decided to pick up the full novel in paperback.
It's been a while since I last read the book so I couldn't remember the full story and of course, being the full edition, there was a lot new to me - the whole backstory of Lally's mother, for one thing. I did enjoy the reread but I don't think the condensed version was lacking in anything great from the full story, and it did feel like a very lengthy read. As an adult, I can also appreciate how far fetched the situation with Alice is portrayed, especially in those times when people with her sort of disability were locked away. That aside, the whole scene near the end with Brock and Mark Shaw was equally as far fetched, but I suppose it had to be that way. More closure on Margaret would also have been nice; a spoiled brat she may be but still one of the best characters for development and depth. Glad I now have a copy but it will be a while before I read again!
It's been a while since I last read the book so I couldn't remember the full story and of course, being the full edition, there was a lot new to me - the whole backstory of Lally's mother, for one thing. I did enjoy the reread but I don't think the condensed version was lacking in anything great from the full story, and it did feel like a very lengthy read. As an adult, I can also appreciate how far fetched the situation with Alice is portrayed, especially in those times when people with her sort of disability were locked away. That aside, the whole scene near the end with Brock and Mark Shaw was equally as far fetched, but I suppose it had to be that way. More closure on Margaret would also have been nice; a spoiled brat she may be but still one of the best characters for development and depth. Glad I now have a copy but it will be a while before I read again!
November 21, 2008
By far the best book I've ever read! The characterization is incredible, each character has a profound sentiment never thought possible to depict in a story before. Lally Pollock is a steadfast heroine, you'd think there will come a point in which she'd set out to destroy the person who destroyed her life, but NO! She is able to forgive, and miraculously move on. The fast tempo of the roaring twenties, is symbolical to how fast she was able to accomplish all she thought was precious and how quick it all ended. Highly recommend it.
March 1, 2016
Catherine Gaskin, RDC-M, V5, 1982, 6/83. Saga about a waif, crushed under carriage wheels, taken to live with the Laird, to love and look after his motherless children. Time spans from before WWI England to the Jazz age in America. Okay.
September 3, 2025
A romance that just breaks your heart.
June 27, 2009
The book begs to add the question on how far do you take gratitude. Do all actions really warrant forgiveness?
May 3, 2010
I'm on a Catherine Gaskin kick as you'll soon find out..... I love these old stories of family and romance in wartime England.
May 22, 2011
One of my all time favorite books!!!
September 27, 2022
Not really 3*- Margarete is just awful and poor Lally a wimp. I don't think even war and peace has this many tragedies.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews