Nicola ThorneCritiques

Romance

This story is based on the real town of Hawick, Scotland (renamed Branswick for the book), a border town heavily involved in the Scottish cashmere trade, both in the book and in reality. I've been to Hawick, and the author has described the region very well. There is some romance, but this is ultimately the story of a woman's life in her family's textile business. Her work, her love life, her family dramas, her successes and failures are all described on the open page. The details about the weaving process and fashions of the time (WW I and WW II) are expertly provided and will engage historical fiction fans who love a soft cashmere sweater on a cold night.

Family saga set mostly in rural Northern England. I didn't like many of the characters who seemed to be mostly unhappy people, regretting their choices in life. Thorne has written many other books which have good ratings, maybe this wasn't the best one to start on.

"Did you know that Catherine? Did you know that?"
My mistress moaned, but I knew that she apprehended what he said, for she tried to sit up, and her dazed eyes stared up at the frightening aspect of her husband.
"What are you saying Hareton? That Jack..."
"'Aye, he's Heathcliff's bastard. Didn't you ever see the likeness? Of course you did."

Catherine. Hareton. Heathcliff. You'll recognize these as characters from Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, arguably one of our great love stories (I say arguably because I have seen much passionate debate back-and-forth on LT). Unlike H: Heathcliff's Return to Wuthering Heights by Lin Haire-Sargeant, which takes place during Heathcliff's three-year absence, Return to Wuthering Heights by Anna L'Estrange occurs forty years after the original tale. Just like most sequels, this one aims to be bigger and badder than the first... more rendezvous across the moors... more declarations of passion... more... Catherines. Yes. But don't worry, Ms L'Estrange certainly doesn't let you get your generations confused. Passages like this will keep you well informed:

I knew that Colonel Heathcliff had not told her the truth and she knew not that she was wedded to her mother's lover, the father of her own half-brother Anthony, Oh my God, if such wickedness cannot be punished in this world, what hope have we for the next?

Yes, it is tawdry, perhaps a bit like an episode of the Springer show but filmed as a costume drama. It is very entertaining as a gothic romance. I'm not the kind of reader who analyzes and ruminates on whether Edgar was spineless, Cathy selfish or Heathcliff bitter. I let myself be caught up in the maelstrom of it, like I did the first time I read Wuthering Heights. Just like Lockwood junior, I was back in Yorkshire too, feeling the wind coming off the moors. As a guilty pleasure it was a glorious way to pass a few hours curled up on the couch and so I count it as a successful sequel indeed.½

Listened to audio version. Story of a woman and her daughter and her neighbors. Very simple and ordinary people whose lives become engrossing as the story progresses. Audio version delightful to hear as it is very "British" to my American ears.