THE INNKEEPER'S DAUGHTER by VAL WOOD

THE INNKEEPER'S DAUGHTER

BY VAL WOOD

THE BLURB:-

Life isn't turning out quite as hoped for thirteen-year-old Bella. She lives at the Woodman Inn- an ancient hostelry run by her family in the Yorkshire countryside- surrounded by her unreliable siblings. When Bella learns that not only is her father seriously ill, but her mother is expecting a fifth child, her dreams of becoming a schoolteacher are quickly dashed.

Times are hard, and when their father dies Bella must also take on responsibility for her baby brother. Her days are brightened by the occasional visit from Jamie Lucan- the son of a wealthy landowner in a neighbouring coastal village. But then her mother announces that she wants to move the family to Hull.

Could things get any worse? Or could this move turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Bella?

THE REALITY:-

Now this I did race through as it really picked up pace as you went along and became more gripping as you progressed! I was actually wary of reading it at first as it is hailed as a “must read for all Catherine Cookson fans.” Well, Cookson's writing was good but gave new meaning to “it's grim up north” and made for quite depressing reading. The Innkeeper's Daughter, thankfully, didn't.

I like reading about Yorkshire as I've only ever visited that county once, in 1979, on a holiday to the once great but now sadly non-existent Butlins Filey, with a day trip to York thrown in. I must make the time to venture up to Leeds, Harrogate and make sure a visit to Bronte country is included as well (as a writer myself, how could I not?) I should also venture across to the other side of the Pennines as well and take in Manchester, as that's another place I've never been to, only passed through. Funnily enough, I always seemed to acquire friends who hailed from these two areas- down to earth, friendly and funny people who often highly sung the praises of the cities of their births.

Anyway, back to the story.... This was a heart-cooling then heartwarming tale of life from 1847 and, as I love my history, it made for a very interesting read about working class life at that time. Bella and her family led a relatively good existence running a pub, compared to some of their contemporaries who weren't running their own business and those who didn't live in a loving household. All of the family had issues, though, and it was heartening to see them work through them and sort their lives out. The East Riding of Yorkshire came to life under the author's pen and it was good to see the life comparisons between the Thorps, the poverty stricken Walkers with their nasty father, the well-off Lucans and also their Hull friends such as the educated immigrant Reuben Jacobs.

Despite missing out on her original dream to become a teacher (and you really feel for Bella and understand her frustration) fortunately both her and her mother Sarah appeared to have their heads screwed on the right way and did a fantastic job of cleaning up the Maritime in Hull, turning it from a hell-hole which undesirables frequented to a respectable inn. They both turned out to be great businesswomen, at a time when women were considered second class citizens: inferior to men.

With likeable characters and a bit o' romance thrown in too for a good measure, this was a good (if not earth shattering) read and I would like to give other works by this writer a go. Oh and I'm glad Bella was not taken in by Mr. Allen's charms- he seemed to be on the make!