Catherine Cookson was born in 1906, the illegitimate child of an alcoholic mother. She was brought up by her grandparents and grew up thinking her mother was her sister. She left school at 13 and worked as a servant and then in a workhouse before she took up writing.
Cookson’s first novel, Kate Hannigan, was published in 1950. Almost 100 books followed; historical dramas which drew much of their inspiration from the harsh life she saw around her. Many of her novels have been adapted for film, stage, TV and radio and she has sold 123 million copies of her works.
Cookson’s humble beginnings made her frugal with her money, even after she had become a multi-millionaire. Still, she gave generously to good causes giving over £800,000 to the University of Newcastle. In recognition of this generosity, a building in the university medical faculty has been named after her. She died in 1998, sixteen days before her 92nd birthday.
How familiar are you with the life and works of Catherine Cookson? Find out in this fun quiz!
1.
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Cookson was born in which area of England? |
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[ ] |
Merseyside |
[ ] |
Teesside |
[ ] |
Tyneside |
[ ] |
Wearside |
|
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2.
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In later life, after a spell living in the south of England, Cookson and her husband settled in which market town in Northumberland? |
|
[ ] |
Alnwick |
[ ] |
Corbridge |
[ ] |
Hexham |
[ ] |
Morpeth |
|
|
3.
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What is the title of the 1952 novel centred around the O'Brien family? |
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[ ] |
The Thirteen Streets |
[ ] |
The Fourteen Streets |
[ ] |
The Fifteen Streets |
[ ] |
The Sixteen Streets |
|
|
4.
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Which novel was adapted for television in 1999, with Carli Norris in the title role? |
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[ ] |
Tammy Trotter |
[ ] |
Terri Trotter |
[ ] |
Tilly Trotter |
[ ] |
Tracy Trotter |
|
|
5.
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In the Mallen Streak trilogy, what was the Mallen Streak? |
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[ ] |
A flash of white hair |
[ ] |
A footrace |
[ ] |
A horse |
[ ] |
A steam locomotive |
|
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6.
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In the 1978 TV adaptation of The Mallens, who played Donald Radlet, the illegitimate son of Thomas Mallen? |
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[ ] |
John Alderton |
[ ] |
John Duttine |
[ ] |
Robson Green |
[ ] |
John Thaw |
|
|
7.
|
In the 1957 novel Rooney, what is the title character's job? |
|
[ ] |
Bus driver |
[ ] |
Dustman |
[ ] |
Farm labourer |
[ ] |
Fisherman |
|
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8.
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Which Cookson character made her first appearance in the 1954 novel A Grand Man? |
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[ ] |
Mary Ann |
[ ] |
Mary Beth |
[ ] |
Mary Jane |
[ ] |
Mary Rose |
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9.
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What was the title of Cookson's first short story, written when she was only eleven? |
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[ ] |
The Wild Gypsy Girl |
[ ] |
The Wild Irish Girl |
[ ] |
The Wild Servant Girl |
[ ] |
The Wild Welsh Girl |
|
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10.
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Cookson met her husband Tom in which town? |
|
[ ] |
Bournemouth |
[ ] |
Brighton |
[ ] |
Eastbourne |
[ ] |
Hastings |
|
|
1.
|
Cookson was born in which area of England? |
|
[ ] |
Merseyside |
[ ] |
Teesside |
[x] |
Tyneside |
[ ] |
Wearside |
|
|
2.
|
In later life, after a spell living in the south of England, Cookson and her husband settled in which market town in Northumberland? |
|
[ ] |
Alnwick |
[x] |
Corbridge |
[ ] |
Hexham |
[ ] |
Morpeth |
|
|
3.
|
What is the title of the 1952 novel centred around the O'Brien family? |
|
[ ] |
The Thirteen Streets |
[ ] |
The Fourteen Streets |
[x] |
The Fifteen Streets |
[ ] |
The Sixteen Streets |
|
|
4.
|
Which novel was adapted for television in 1999, with Carli Norris in the title role? |
|
[ ] |
Tammy Trotter |
[ ] |
Terri Trotter |
[x] |
Tilly Trotter |
[ ] |
Tracy Trotter |
|
|
5.
|
In the Mallen Streak trilogy, what was the Mallen Streak? |
|
[x] |
A flash of white hair |
[ ] |
A footrace |
[ ] |
A horse |
[ ] |
A steam locomotive |
|
|
6.
|
In the 1978 TV adaptation of The Mallens, who played Donald Radlet, the illegitimate son of Thomas Mallen? |
|
[ ] |
John Alderton |
[x] |
John Duttine |
[ ] |
Robson Green |
[ ] |
John Thaw |
|
|
7.
|
In the 1957 novel Rooney, what is the title character's job? |
|
[ ] |
Bus driver |
[x] |
Dustman |
[ ] |
Farm labourer |
[ ] |
Fisherman |
|
|
8.
|
Which Cookson character made her first appearance in the 1954 novel A Grand Man? |
|
[x] |
Mary Ann |
[ ] |
Mary Beth |
[ ] |
Mary Jane |
[ ] |
Mary Rose |
|
|
9.
|
What was the title of Cookson's first short story, written when she was only eleven? |
|
[ ] |
The Wild Gypsy Girl |
[x] |
The Wild Irish Girl |
[ ] |
The Wild Servant Girl |
[ ] |
The Wild Welsh Girl |
|
|
10.
|
Cookson met her husband Tom in which town? |
|
[ ] |
Bournemouth |
[ ] |
Brighton |
[ ] |
Eastbourne |
[x] |
Hastings |
|
|