Skip to content
Exploring the legacy of Catherine Cookson

Press release -

Exploring the legacy of Catherine Cookson

An opportunity to discuss the legacy of South Shields-born writer Catherine Cookson is on offer when academics from Northumbria University will lead a discussion at South Shields Library.

Dr Lee Barron and Dr James Leggott, who both teach and research popular culture, will lead the discussion on Tuesday 9 July, which starts at 2pm. The event follows a screening of Cookson’s The Fifteen Streets the previous day at the Customs House.

The talk is part of an ongoing research project to examine what Cookson’s economic and cultural legacy should be in the 21st century. Catherine Cookson published more than 100 novels and was Britain’s most widely-read author of the late 20th century.

The talk is an opportunity for members of the public to voice ideas on how Cookson should fit into the town’s culture while the research is looking at the significance of local history with regard to the Library and the wider issue of cultural regeneration.

Dr Barron said: “Our research suggests that there is a real split between people who don’t really see Cookson’s work as being relevant to 21st century reading audiences, and many others who strongly feel that, even though the Catherine Cookson Trail is no longer viable, her legacy needs to be preserved and recognised as constituting an important part of South Shields’ cultural heritage and situated alongside current cultural developments.”

He added: “South Shields has undergone substantial industrial change in the last 20 years and is currently seeing a number of architectural transformations, so Cookson’s image of what the area once was is an important archive.”

A reading group attached to the South Shields Library is reading Cookson’s novel, Colour Blind and will inform the research in terms of seeing what modern readers think of her style.

Topics

Categories


Northumbria is a research-rich, business-focussed, professional university with a global reputation for academic excellence. To find out more about our courses go towww.northumbria.ac.uk

If you have a media enquiry please contact our Media and Communications team at media.communications@northumbria.ac.uk or call 0191 227 4571.

Contacts

Rik Kendall

Rik Kendall

Press contact PR and Media Manager Business and Law / Arts, Design & Social Sciences 07923 382339
Andrea Slowey

Andrea Slowey

Press contact PR and Media Manager Engineering and Environment / Health and Life Sciences 07708 509436
James Fox

James Fox

Press contact Student Communications Manager
Kelly Elliott

Kelly Elliott

Press contact PR and Media Officer
Rachael Barwick

Rachael Barwick

Press contact PR and Media Manager 07377422415
Ruth Lognonne

Ruth Lognonne

Press contact PR and Media Officer 07971274253
Gemma Brown

Gemma Brown

Press contact PR and Media Officer

Related content

#TakeOnTomorrow

Northumbria University is a research-intensive university that unlocks potential for all, changing lives regionally, nationally and internationally.

Northumbria University, Newcastle
Northumbria University, Newcastle
NE1 8ST Newcastle upon Tyne
United Kingdom