Genre: Fiction (Historical) dealing with class issues
#1 The Mallen Streak
We are introduced to Thomas Mallen at his home, High Banks Hall) and his nieces. We learn about the signature white streak of hair that afflicts the Mallen’s and their rather unfortunate streak of bad luck. Thomas loses his home due to bad debt and his son flees the country. So he moves into the small cottage with his 2 nieces (Barbara and Constance) and their governess, Anna Brigmore, who is in love with Thomas. One night, in a drunken stupor, Thomas Mallen rapes his young niece, Barbara, upon realising what he has done he commits suicide.
The editing done to this novel was not great as there were quite a few spelling and grammar errors, but I suspect that is because the copy that I read was one of the first edition paperback prints from 1975. I found the novel rather interesting and struggled to put it down. I thought the story was well written and I absolutely loved the way Dame Cookson highlighted the class differences and issues of the time, especially her way of focusing on the 'fall from grace' and the inability of some to adjust to a smaller scale of living. I was disappointed when the book ended but I was glad to find out that there were two more to follow.
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