Description
The Bailey Chronicles is a moving and heartwarming new romance from the superb and internationally beloved story- teller Catherine Cookson. Set in the north- ern English countryside that Catherine Cookson portrays so beautifully, this mod- ern-day tale features an irresistible hero, Bill Bailey, who, from the moment he arrives to take up residence in Fiona Nelson's home, makes his presence felt in no uncertain terms. As a young widow left badly off, and with three children to bring up, Fiona has come to know the problems of trying to make ends meet. So, despite the viper- tongued comments of her vain, selfish mother, Fiona advertises for a lodger. The result is Bill: somewhat rough around the edges perhaps, but nobody's fool, and doing very nicely with his own business as a builder.
It is not long before Fiona finds that she can't remember what her life had been like before he came into it-for Bill Bailey pos- sesses some extraordinary qualities that prove to have a great and lasting effect on the lives of Fiona and her young children, who quickly come to depend on "Mr. Bill" for everything. When Fiona and Bill marry, Mt. Bill adopts not only Fiona's children- ark, Katie, and Willie-but also the orphaned Mamie.
This wonderful novel spans ten years in the lives of Bill and Fiona Bailey, two utterly remarkable people, and their growing fam- ily. The characters are all memorable and affecting-from Bailey's crew of plain- spoken workingmen to Nell, the helpful neighbor whose loneliness is overcome by the ready-made, loving family; and most of all, Bill Bailey, whose humor and brashness sometimes make him dangerous enemies. Catherine Cookson has written a warm and engaging portrait of a family that triumphs over its sorrows and devastating losses with love and laughter.
ISBN:9780671623876
