Book reviews

The Black Candle
Catherine Cookson Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Catherine Cookson Books
New book search
Catherine Cookson Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of The Black Candle
"As the story begins, Bridget Mordaunt has inherited a blacking factory and a candle factory from her father. Contrary to the typical young Victorian woman, she decides to run the factories herself. An overseer in the blacking factory, Joe Skinner, is accused of killing his brother. Bridget has always liked Joe and doesn't believe he could have done it. However all the evidence seems to point to him, and he will say nothing to defend himself. When he is executed, Bridget takes in his widow Lily and her son Joseph. It was well known that Lily was pregnant by another man before she married Joe. She will not reveal the father.

On Bridget's homefront, her very pretty, traditional cousin Victoria has fallen in love with Lionel Filmore. Lionel is ready to drop Victoria when he finds out she unlike Bridget is not rich. To spare Victoria heartbreak, Bridget secretly makes a settlement with Lionel so he will go through with the wedding.

These early actions have a profound impact on Bridget, Victoria, Lily, their children and grandchildren. Bridget and Victoria become estranged when Victoria finds out about the money arrangement. She suffers in a miserable marriage and has a handicapped child. Bridget meanwhile, marries Lionel's brother Douglas. Lily's deathbed revelation to Joe about his father's identity, and Douglas's discovery of the truth behind the murder prompt Joe on a journey to understand his past. He marries Amy, Bridget's daughter. It is a struggle for them to overcome the influence of the past on their relationship and family."

Susan Coffey, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Black Candle
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 1900-1920's
Family, struggle with Yes
Struggle with: - all of family
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - business executive
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Nationality - British
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - wealthy
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - very athletic

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 ()
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting - fancy mansion

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references
Unusual Style: - No single main character?
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to The Black Candle
Growth of the Soil by Knut Hamsun
The Marriage Bed by Regina McBride
The Cure for Death by Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz
Our Lizzie by Anna Jacobs
The Thousand Deaths of Mr. Small by Gerald Kersh


Click here for more information about this book


Catherine Cookson Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Susan Coffey  

SCHOLARS:
Brandy Todd  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Literature books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal story

Crime & Police story

Ethnic/regional/gender life

Exploring into the wild

Family, caring for ill

Family, loving relations

Family, struggle with

Internal struggle/realization?

Job/Profession/Status story

Kids growing up/acting up?

Political/social activism

Poverty, surviving

Pregnancy/Child rearing

Religion theme?

Romance/Romance Problems

Sports Story?

War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
James Patterson 12:08:13 PM
George W. Bush 2:32:02 AM
Anonymous 2:03:39 AM
Erin Hunters 9:00:01 PM
Betty Mahmoody 6:00:22 PM
Judith McNaught 11:55:44 AM
Iris Johansen 9:03:43 PM
Norah Lofts 1:11:37 PM
Jane Rubino 9:32:45 AM
Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twersky 11:28:51 PM
Faye Kellerman 12:37:41 AM
LaVyrle Spencer 7:25:23 PM
Robert James Waller 8:30:15 PM
Suzanne Weyn 12:50:03 AM
Deric Longden 2:54:11 PM
Wilma Counts 1:23:32 PM
Kin Platt 12:58:29 AM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:05:52 PM
G.A. McKevett 10:03:31 PM
David Williams 10:03:01 PM

More message boards