Catherine Cookson author of The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award, leading to her readership quickly spread worldwide, with her many bestselling novels establishing her as one of the most popular contemporary authors.

Orphaned at a tender age, Millie Forester is adopted by "Raggie Aggie" Winkowski, and she suffers misfortune and misplaced love as she grows to adulthood side by side with Aggie's son, Ben, whose love for Millie increases over the years.