The Upstart

by Catherine Cookson

Book Overview

From Simon & Schuster, The Upstart is Catherine Cookson's latest work of unforgettable fiction. As a man who has clawed his way to the top in late nineteenth-century England, Samuel Fairbrother sees... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684843153
• ISBN13: 9780684843155
• Release Date: March 1998
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

One of Cookson's family sagas...the usual meaty characters

One of the best things about Catherine Cooksons family saga novels is the way she points out the vast differences in person- ality that the children have. Siblings are usually more different than alike. Parents discover that not only do they sometimes not love their children, they often actively dislike them, and vice-versa. Cookson's novels aren't afraid to be brutally honest when it comes to the reality of the nuclear family. I find that quite refreshing. The Upstart is about surviving in the class system and the effects family members have on each other. Janet Fairbrother and Roger Maitland are the obvious good-guys to root for here, we're very happy for them when they finally come together. I found the concept of the perfect butler who's still very human quite interesting. The misguided workaholic Dad was also somewhat sympathetic. I didn't know what to make of Alice the mother though, her cruelty to Janet threw me. The wealthy have problems too, and Catherine Cookson tends to deal out an equal amount of unhappiness to her rich, middle- class and poor characters alike. This common touch graces her books with heart and believability.

very intertaining

This book is one of Catherien Cookson's best. you can feel for this family the pain & unhappeness they go through. The father thinks he is better than everyone else even though he isn't & the children and his wife are not happy with their lives. Some rebel.

Very good work by Britain's favorite historical author

In 1898 England, wealthy shoe merchant Samuel Fairbrother decides to move his wife and eight children out of their working middle class environment into a home once owned by a penniless aristocrat. Samuel wants his family to hobnob with the gentry, though his household is very contented where they are. In spite all of his money, the local gentry refuses to accept him as their equal. Samuel still feels that his money, the home and his butler, Roger Maitland will eventually provide the necessary bridge to his goal. However, his upscale lifestyle begins to fall apart when his wife announces that she no longer loves him because he loves only money. Nine years later, the world is about to collapse around the Fairbrother family. The oldest son, Howard has become a lying cheat, who tries to get money from anyone he can in any manner he must. Alice, the oldest daughter is falling in love with Roger, an unacceptable situation to Samuel. Because he has failed to love his family, Samuel may end up with no one who cares for him. Readers will enjoy the latest family drama from the great Catherine Cookson. The story line about the hypocrisy of the British class system is well written and made interesting by the various characters. With THE UPSTART, the author has cooked up a classy Victorian relationship novel that will be devoured by Ms. Cookson's myriad of fans and by readers of historical fiction. Harriet Klausner