So there's Cissie and her brood, Matthew the Wheelwright, and then Lord Fischel and his mansion and awful (adult) children, Clive and Isabelle. Isabelle is about as evil as a villain can be. They have friends, but charity cannot always spare them the harsh reality of their struggle and when Cissie attracts the unwanted attentions of a local landowner, her world seems close to collapse. Clive proved to be reliable and loving. She loved Cissie truly and never pressed her with his presence and desires, never came whining to her, as Matthew did many times.

Episodes 1 hour ago Secrets of the Royal Palaces: Love and Marriage (Channel 5 Saturday 4 November 2023) You will not read a more exciting and absorbing work of historical fiction than this gem from Catherine Cookson. Set in County Durham in the mid 19th century, it dramatically confirms how bad it was to be poor during a period of massive industrial development and social upheaval. When fifteen-year-old Cissie Brodie loses her parents to cholera, she is forced out of the family cottage and left to raise her nine siblings alone. Although desperately poor, the strong-willed Cissie determines to build a new home for the Brodies. It is only a rough stone shelter, but to Cissie and her family it is enough to keep them from the workhouse.When fifteen-year-old Cissie Brodie loses her parents to cholera, she is forced out of the family cottage and left to raise her nine brothers and sisters by herself. Although desperately poor, strong-willed Cissie determines to build a new home for them all, their own little shelter to keep them from the workhouse. They have friends, but charity cannot always spare them the harsh reality of their struggle and the bitterness of those who wish them harm. But can love, when it arrives, teach Cissie not to fear the world beyond the dwelling place? Ok, it seems there are many contradictions regarding the plot of this story and personally, I feel, this is as a result of many who had watched the mini-series believing the novel is accurate to the tv/movie adaptation, which it is not. Unable to see her sister condemned to such a fate, Cissie strikes a bargain with Lord Fischer, offering to hand over the baby if he will use his influence to secure the dropping of charges against Bella. Ray was married to actress Ruth Gemmell, who he met when they worked together on the drama Band of Gold. They later played a husband and wife on screen in Peak Practice. But the couple are now divorced.

He went on to appear in a huge range of TV dramas, including the BAFTA-nominated Band of Gold and Peak Practice*. He took a lead alongside Paul Nicholls in the police drama City Central. He's also guest-starred in popular shows such as Waking the Dead, Dalziel and Pascoe, and Murphy's Law. Catherine Cookson has recently become one of my favorite authors. Cookson creates powerfully touching novels of love and overcoming the odds, two things that I greatly enjoy reading about. The Dwelling place is such a novel. It tells the story of a courageous young girl who takes on the challenge of raising her many brothers and sisters. It's touching and very interesting plot wise. I recommend it to those who LOVE historical fiction and perhaps those who like not having the difficulty of something like Jane Austen. What I'm getting at is that it's pretty straightforward. Ray was inspired to become an actor after seeing John Malkovich in the play Burn This at a West End theatre. Personal Details I cannot understand why the most of the readers like Matthew's character. He appeared to me egoistic and possessive. By the end of the book I already disliked him completely. He treated both Rose and Cissie terribly. I think Cissie did not really love him, but it was her teenage first romantic touch, and the situation they were in. I think she was depending on him and saw him as their saviour and only friend. My impression is that she was not quite happy during her marriage. Otherwise she would not feel "released" after Matthew's death and would mourn and remember him with love. I did not notice any of them. What is more, I do not recall having read that she loved Matthew since Clive's first return in her live. A great story that really reads as a non-fiction novel. During that time in history this really does portray how very difficult and downtrodden the underclass was and how children were used in dangerous work. A masterful read.When Cissie Brodie loses both of her parents to cholera she is left with nine younger siblings to look after and no income. She is aware that the workhouse is usually the inevitable outcome for people in such dire circumstances - an outcome she is determined to avoid, knowing it will break up her family. In desperation she accommodates them in a cave on the fells – the ‘dwelling place’ – and with the help of Matthew, a wheelwright, she succeeds in building a makeshift home in this rough environment. She resolutely defies all the dogmatic influencers who insist the workhouse is her only option. In 1830’s Northumberland 16 year old Cissie Brodie is forced to bring up her five younger siblings alone following the death of their parents. Clive’s return home adds more complications. He is the child’s father, but Lord Fischel and his vicious daughter lay claim to the little boy. More intrigue and violent confrontations follow, and as in any great novel, there are plenty of unexpected twists to the rest of the story, including romantic ones. The struggles of Cissie and her family are in stark contrast to the lifestyle of the local gentry. Separated from his wife, Lord Fischer lives in his stately home in comfort and opulence with a son and a daughter – neither of whom he gets on with. His daughter Isabelle hates the isolated existence in the country, while Clive lives only for painting. Catherine Cookson skillfully weaves their fortunes with those of the impoverished Brodies.

Ray took the role of Graham Braithwaite in At Home with the Braithwaites, the hugely successful drama series about a lottery winner starring Amanda Redman. The Dwelling Place is one of the best books I've ever read with strong characters and an unforgettable plot. This movie is NOTHING like the book. Nothing. The Cissie of the book was beautiful, strong, dignified and weighed down by the burden of having to feed and shelter nine children; the Cissie in the movie looked and acted like a street urchin who never displayed grief at losing her parents and who obviously never combed her hair. Episodes 1 hour ago World’s Most Expensive Cruise: Season 3 Episode 2 (Channel 5 Friday 3 November 2023) This story revolves around Cissy Brodie, a 15 year old girl who is left to care for her numerous siblings when her parents die. If that wasn't enough, they are evicted from their home. Cissy is determined to keep the family together and so, sets out to create a "dwelling place" from a cave on the fells.This is the first Catherine Cookson book I have read and it was excellent. The tag line on the front of the book says "Britain's Best-Loved Storyteller" and that is just what the author is -- an incredible storyteller that keeps the reader engaged until the very end. Writer: Gordon Hann / Novel: Catherine Cookson / Producer: Ray Marshall / Director: Gavin Miller / Design: Ash Wilkinson / Music: Colin Towns / Costume: Shuna Harwood / Camera: John Hooper Period drama serial The Dwelling Place was another entry in the series of Catherine Cookson adaptations made by Tyne Tees throughout the 1990’s. The characters of Isabel and Clive were so stereotypical that it was laughable - she was the evil witch and he was the weak-kneed pretty boy with not one ounce of courage. Kids growing up/acting up? - Yes Kids: - struggling to earn a living to survive Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book