Josephine Cox Bio

Josephine Cox was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, and was one of 10 children. She grew up in poverty, knowing hunger and charity from the Ragged School. Her mother worked in the cotton mills between children and her father was an alcoholic who works on the roads. They lived tightly packed, often six to a bed, in the working-class terraces of Blackburn. At 14 years of age, her mother rounded the children up and left with some, which saw Cox leave behind her friends, father and her brothers. 

It was this early life and the turmoil that she faced that inspired all of Josephine Cox’s novels. In Memories of a Northern Childhood, Cox notes that every single book she writes has something in it that has happened to her, her family or her friends. 

In 1956, she married Kenneth Cox, and they had two sons. When her children started school, she began college. She was offered a place at the University of Cambridge but her commitments with her family did not allow her to take up this offer, instead becoming a teacher. Her first novel, Her Father’s Sins, was written when she was in hospital and a friend brought her paper and pens to keep her busy. At the same time her first book was published, she won the ‘Superwoman of Great Britain’ Award – her family had entered her without her knowledge. 

HarperCollins, Josephine Cox’s publisher, announced her death on the 20th July 2020. She passed away on the 17th July 2020, just two days after her 82nd birthday.

Popular Josephine Cox books

With so many books published by Josephine Cox, choosing any particular book as the most popular would be very difficult. There are several books that have rated well by readers, including:

• Don’t Cry Alone (1992)

• Nobody’s Darling (1993)

• Jessica’s Girl (1993)

• More than Riches (1994)

• Born to Serve (1994) 

• Living a Lie (1995)

• A Time for Us (1996)

• Miss You Forever (1997)

• Tomorrow the World (1998)

• A Daughter’s Return (2021)

 In her career, Josephine wrote two series (Emma Grady Trilogy and The Journey), a non-fiction book (Child of the North) and 58 standalone novels. She also wrote under the name Jo Cox as well as writing dark psychological thrillers under Jane Brindle which was her mother’s name. 

Recent book releases 

There have been several books released since Josephine Cox’s death in 2020. These have been written by Gilly Middleton who worked with Cox for many years, and writes new stories inspired by the world Josephine Cox created. 

These recent books are:

• A Daughter’s Return (2021)

• A Time to Remember (2022)

• The Letter (2023)

• Daddy’s Girl (2024)

• A Daughter’s Secret (2025

• No Angel (2026)

• The Hidden Heart (2026)

• The Broken Legacy (2026)

• The Winter Secret (2026)