A Review of the Tannery by Sherrie Hewson

Quick Read 2009 Novel From Coronation Street Star

Jul 23, 2009

Sherrie Hewson, a well known British TV actress, has written her first novel: a tale of the hardships of Dolly's life in war-torn England.

Life for Dolly Ramsden, six years old in 1938, has not exactly been a bed of roses and it's about to get a whole lot worse.

The title refers to the workplace of the heroine’s father. Skinning cows to make leather out of their hides is Mr Ramsden’s smelly and unpleasant job. Dolly’s mother is not so enamoured of his choice of career, despite its relatively well-paid nature, and is already looking for ways to amuse herself outside of the home.

But the Second World War is just around the corner and life in the Ramsden household is set to change forever as Dolly’s father is conscripted.

Simply, although often powerfully written, the book aligns itself with Dolly’s essential goodness pitted against her mother’s descent.

War time experiences are likely to have put a strain on even the strongest of characters but the reader is left with a slight feeling of Hewson’s soap opera background as the book unfolds. Dolly’s father in particular seems to undergo an episodic character change on more than one occasion, gradually developing some of his wife’s tendencies. Dolly’s mother, on the other hand, is consistently presented as having very few redeeming features with a predictable fate awaiting her.

Dolly keeps herself to herself wherever possible except where she finds unjust treatment, thus introducing the fourth character who takes increasing precedence as the book proceeds. Stanley Armitage is the unprepossessing and retiring son of the local undertakers.

Hard to Put Down?

Like many Quick Reads this is just that. It is simply written and digested with no great surprises. The atmosphere could have been further developed by exploring the effect Ramsden’s job at The Tannery had on the family and the area. After all the book takes his title from his workplace. One clever use of his work was made towards the end of the book with a simile that united his permanently stained red hands and the book’s conclusion.

Readers who enjoy tales of impoverished lives building strong characters are likely to enjoy two other Quick Read books, Catrin Collier’s Black-Eyed Devils and Gilda O Neill’s reminiscences of life in post-war London, East End Tales.

About the Author

Sherrie Hewson is best known for her starring roles in two long running British TV soaps – Coronation Street and Emmerdale. The Tannery is her first novel and results from her winning entry in the TV series, Murder Most Famous, hosted by the crime writer MInette Walters.

Quick Reads series

Quick Reads are aimed at people who’ve either lost or never developed their reading habit or just want simply that, a quick read. They are short, often only about 100 pages long, and are written in an accessible and appealing style.

There are 32 books in the series including 10 published 5 March 2009, to coincide with World Book Day. Learning resources are provided to develop reading skills.

Reviews of 2009 Quick Reads

The Tannery (ISBN: 978-0-330-46434-5). Published by Pan Books (UK) – 5 March 2009.

The copyright of the article A Review of the Tannery by Sherrie Hewson in Historical Romance Fiction is owned by Catherine Whitlock. Permission to republish A Review of the Tannery by Sherrie Hewson in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.