Catherine Cookson facts for kids

Dame Catherine Ann Cookson, DBE (born Catherine Ann McMullen; June 20, 1906 – June 11, 1998) was a very famous British writer. She is one of the most widely read British novelists ever. Her books sold over 100 million copies!

Catherine Cookson's stories were inspired by her childhood. She grew up in a poor area of South Shields, North East England. Many of her novels are set there. She wrote 104 books, making her one of the most productive British novelists.

Early Life

Catherine Ann McMullen was born on June 20, 1906, in Tyne Dock, South Shields, England. People called her "Katie" when she was a child. She later moved to Jarrow, which became the setting for her well-known book, The Fifteen Streets.

She left school at 14 years old. After working as a house helper, she got a job at the laundry of Harton Workhouse in South Shields. A workhouse was a place where poor people could live and work. In 1929, she moved to Hastings to run another workhouse laundry. She saved her money to buy a big house and rented out rooms to earn more.

In June 1940, when she was 34, she married Tom Cookson, a teacher. Catherine had a difficult time with her health after getting married. She suffered from a rare blood vessel disease. This led to a period of severe sadness, which took her ten years to recover from.

Writing Career

Catherine started writing to help herself feel better. It was like therapy for her. She also helped start the Hastings Writers' Group. Her first novel, Kate Hannigan, was published in 1950. Even though it was called a romance, she felt her books were more like historical novels. They were about real people and the tough lives they lived.

Catherine Cookson didn't really care about being a celebrity writer. She focused on getting her stories right. She would even do research like going down a mine to understand her characters' lives better. She wrote about people who faced many challenges.

Cookson wrote almost 100 books, selling over 123 million copies. Her novels were translated into at least 20 languages. She also used other names for her books, like Catherine Marchant and Katie McMullen. For 17 years, she was the most borrowed author from public libraries in the UK. This continued even after she passed away.

Books in Film and Television

Many of Catherine Cookson's novels have been made into films, radio shows, and plays. The first film based on her work was Jacqueline in 1956. It was based on her book A Grand Man. Another film, Rooney, came out in 1958. Both films starred John Gregson.

In 1983, her book Katie Mulholland was turned into a musical for the stage. Catherine Cookson even went to see the first show!

Her biggest success in media was on television. Many of her books were adapted into TV dramas between 1989 and 2001. These shows were very popular and had huge numbers of viewers. The first TV film, The Fifteen Streets, was nominated for an Emmy in 1990. The second, The Black Velvet Gown, won an International Emmy for Best Drama in 1991. These mini-series often had over 10 million viewers.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

Catherine Cookson was very generous. In 1985, she gave over £800,000 to the University of Newcastle. Because of her kindness, the university created a special teaching position for blood diseases. She also gave money for a laser to help treat bleeding problems. Another £50,000 helped create a new job for studying ear, nose, and throat issues, especially finding deafness in children.

She had also given money to the university's art gallery and library. To thank her, a building in the university's medical area was named after her. Her special fund still gives money to good causes in the UK. This includes groups that help young people and cultural places like the Tyneside Cinema.

Honours

Catherine Cookson received special awards from the British government. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1985. Then, in 1993, she became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This is a very high honour.

She also received the Freedom of the Borough of South Tyneside. This is a special award from her hometown area. The University of Newcastle also gave her an honorary degree. The Variety Club of Great Britain named her Writer of the Year. She was also voted the Personality of the North East.

In 1982, she was featured on the TV show This Is Your Life.

Later Life and Death

Later in her life, Catherine and her husband Tom moved back to the North East of England. They lived in different places, including Corbridge and Langley, Northumberland. As her health got worse, they moved back to Jesmond in 1989 to be closer to hospitals. For her last few years, she was mostly in bed. She gave her last TV interview from her sickbed to a local news program.

Catherine Cookson passed away at 91 years old, just before her 92nd birthday. Her novels continued to be published even after her death until 2002. Her husband Tom died just 17 days after her, at the age of 86.

Legacy

In 1992, the first Catherine Cookson Prize was held. Author Val Wood won it with her first novel, The Hungry Tide, which became a best-seller.

In March 2008, the Dame Catherine Cookson Memorial Garden was opened. It is at the South Tyneside District Hospital in South Shields. The garden is on the site of the old Harton Workhouse, where Catherine Cookson used to work. The Catherine Cookson Trust helped pay for the garden.

A musical about Catherine and Tom's life, called Tom and Catherine, was written by a local writer named Tom Kelly. It was very popular and sold out shows at the Customs House in South Shields.

Portrayals in fiction

Actress Kerry Browne played Catherine Cookson in the 2018 film Our Catherine.