I picked up The Maltese Angel because, well, how could I resist the title? I expected light and hope, but instead I found it much darker and heavier than I thought it would be.
About the book
Ward Gibson knew what was expected of him by the village folk, and especially by the Mason family, whose daughter Daisy he had known all his life. But then, in a single week, his whole world had been turned upside down by a dancer, Stephanie McQueen, who seemed to float across the stage of the Empire Music Hall where she was appearing as The Maltese Angel. To his amazement, the attraction was mutual, and after a whirlwind courtship she agreed to marry him.
But a scorpion had already begun to emerge from beneath the stone of the local community, who considered that Ward had betrayed their expectations, and had led on and cruelly deserted Daisy. There followed a series of reprisals on his family, one of them serious enough to cause him to exact a terrible revenge; and these events would twist and turn the course of many lives through Ward’s own and succeeding generations.
My review
I picked up The Maltese Angel because, well, how could I resist the title? Anything with “Maltese” in it immediately makes me curious, and knowing it was written by Catherine Cookson made it even more tempting. She’s such a remarkable writer—one of the most published and beloved British novelists ever—and I’ve always admired the sheer number of books she managed to produce in her lifetime.
The story itself, though, surprised me. I expected a little more light and hope, but instead I found it much darker and heavier than I thought it would be. The characters live through hardship after hardship, and the mood of the book is often depressing. It’s not badly written—on the contrary, Cookson’s talent shines through in every page—but as a reader I sometimes struggled to keep going because it felt like the weight of the story pressed down on me.
What I did enjoy were the little connections to Malta. Even if small, just seeing my island referenced gave me a thrill. It reminded me of how often Malta appears in literature in ways you don’t expect, and how it sparks a sense of recognition that always feels personal.
So, while I admire Cookson deeply and respect her legacy, The Maltese Angel wasn’t really my cup of tea. For readers who like darker, more tragic family sagas, it will be worth it, because the writing is strong and the emotions are real. But for me, it was too heavy, and I closed the book feeling more drained than uplifted.
I’m still glad I read it, though—partly because of the Maltese link, and partly because even when her stories aren’t for me, Catherine Cookson remains a writer I can’t help but admire.
Book details
- ISBN:978-0593021323
- Print length: 480 pages
- Other info: see tags below (author, location language & year of publication)
