All about love, conflict and the heart
Tulip Chowdhury observes emotions in their complexity
Fenwick Houses
Catherine Cookson
Bantam Books
A beautiful woman with flaxen hair, cornflower blue eyes and the most generous mouth, Christine Winters held an aura of mystery that drew men towards her like flies to honey. She had three men who sought her from the very early days of her growing up years. Ronnie, strange and quiet, wanted her in his own way without any words. Don was the rough and rugged and he made it a point to let her know that he would possess her one day. And there was Sam, a person who lived in the closest harmony with her and yet never spoke out of his dreams. It is said that a beautiful woman never finds peace of heart in true love for men fall for her only for the sake of physical beauty. Christine was a living example to the truth of this saying.
In the year of the great Depression in England Christine lived in Fenwick Houses, the miners' cottages along the river terrace. She lived with her parents and her elder brother. Her mother was a protective woman who seldom let her daughter go out on her own. She had to be accompanied by either her brother or father to go below the river bank. Sam and Don were Christine's cousins and lived next door. Although she had a protective mother Christine could not avoid her tormentor Don. Daytimes would pass with her trying her best not to face him alone. At night he would tap on the wall to let her know that he was out there. Sam tried to protect her from his brother Don. But Sam was far too soft for the rowdy Don. And then there was Ronnie always trying to pay her a visit. Christine went to the church regularly with her parents. Her growing years were full of confusions. In her own world life held up its own axioms. In Christine's words,
" I was sixteen when I realized that priests don't know everything. You don't go to hell because you sin, but because you love; and you don't have to wait until you die to meet the Devil, oh nohe is your next door neighbour.."
And Christine was facing hell for while three men were there seeking her heart, her own heart lay with Martin Foyere , a young man she had met by the river. Sweet and sixteen, Christine is at once in love with the young man. He too is totally and madly taken up with her. Christine takes Sam as her confidant and Sam takes her to her riverbank from where she can go off with Martin. Christine knows how much Sam is sacrificing and yet her own love for Martin is too deep to think of Sam's feelings. And soon to her horror she finds herself with Martin's Child. The war breaks out and with it disappears Martin. Martin was a soldier.
The Fenwick Houses have news spread like wild fire about Christine's pregnancy. And when Christine mentions the name of the father no one can be found by that name. However her parents are patient and are ready to support her in her pregnancy. In due time the baby, a sweet little girl, arrives. Christine names her Constance, thinking of how the father's memories are always there with her. She was convinced that Martin did love her and was kept away against his wishes. When Constance is nearly four years old Martin comes back and is delighted to know that he has a daughter. However, for Christine happiness plays very elusive games and once again Martin disappears. She would find Martin again but at a very high cost of her reputations.
Meanwhile, war rages between Don, Sam and Ronnie. The cruel games Don plays with Christine and her daughter often have her in tears. Sam, the kind soul, is always there to help. But Christine is afraid to take help about his safety from Don. Christine's mother passes away and the whole family is left in her care. Her father seems to lose his hold on life. Christine's struggles for life are never ending and in the midst of it all she has Constance to hold on to for strength. Even here Don once again stands in the way of the mother-daughter relationship. She knows for certain that some people like Don are born with crooked souls and she has a long way to go till peace can be there for her.
Catherine Cookson, a master storyteller, has woven a saga where one can find the interplay of different characters. Sam and Don are two brothers and yet how different they are! Sam, the gentle and patient young man, can be very tough in the hour of need. Don, impatient and ruthless, one who kills rabbits and hangs them on the trees, is relentless in his drive. And yet this man cowers when bravery is needed. Christine's mother and Aunt Phyllis are two sisters. Christine's mother is kind and hardworking and is never short of generosity to her sister. Yet Aunt Phyllis is always comparing and complaining of fate has to hold out to her. And there is Christine, the serene, patient young woman who takes all the blows destiny holds out and yet utters not a word against God. The story is told as a first person narrative from Christine, the protagonist of the story.
To the reader Fenwick Houses at times may seem set on the old stereo type roles of men and women. For Christine, as a woman has to go through so much hardship on account of some men. But and then the book is also like an eye opener to the present day world of women's liberty and how strongly women can oppose injustice. Christine could not complain in the world where women had to sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of the society that supported men. In this modern world a woman would not think of putting up with discrimination. This book is like a reminder to how far women have conquered the world, how they have conquered the obstacles on their way to the world. However this book is also a superb tale of love, obsession and the secrets that take root in the human heart. It is a tale that shows love transcends the everyday world of reality.
Tulip Chowdhury writes fiction and is a poet.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments