Tilly Trotter

I had never really read any Catherine Cookson until I discovered the film adaptations on Netflix. They turn out to be truly quality productions. Of all, Tilly Trotter is perhaps my favorite character. The movie only covers the first book of the trilogy. I wish they would produce the sequels. The US titles are Tilly, Tilly Wed, and Tilly Alone. They're all equally engaging and moving stories. We watch Tilly from a young girl, targeted by ignorant villagers and labeled a witch all because she has that charisma that draws all men. Wherever she goes tragedy seem to follow her. Nevertheless, she persists. What makes this trilogy so great is the depth of the characterizations and the realistic historic feel of the times. You'll weep and cheer with Tilly. You won't be able to stop until you've read all 3 books!

I think every book in this trilogy is excellent and unique...especially for Catherine Cookson whose books are all quite similar (yet all excellent.) I have read 52 of Cookson's books and the Tilly Trotter trilogy was among my favorite. I enjoyed the unique setting in the second book, taking place in America during conflicts with Native Americans. (Granted, the conflicts were a bit stereotypical of the attitude in the time this was written... The Native Americans being portrayed as vicious savages.)

With 1100 pages in the Omnibus version of Tilly Trotter it seems daunting at first, but after already viewing the movie on the Romance Channel I was ready for the whole, unabridged story. It does a great job of telling Tilly's life but is short on romance and long on hardship.