The Keeners.The Keeners Maura D. Shaw Medallion ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m : 1932815155 $25.95 279 pp. In 1846 County Clare County Clare (Contae an Chláir in Irish) is in the Irish province of Munster. It is located on the west coast of Ireland, northwest of the River Shannon and bordering Lough Derg. Area: 3,147 km² (1,215 square miles). Its capital is the town of Ennis. , Ireland, seventeen-year-old Margaret Meehan thinks the world is terrific as her family farm has always done well growing potatoes and she anticipates marrying Tom Riordan. Adding to her belief that all is right in her orbit is that she is also apprenticed to the elderly keener Nuala Lynch as they provide solace to those grieving the loss of a loved one. However, her idyllic life collapses as the potato famine Potato Famine estimated 200,000 Irish died (1846). [Irish Hist.: Brewer Note-Book, 705] See : Hunger begins with people dying throughout the devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. country. Unable to cope with so much death and demand on the keeners and with her spouse condemned as a criminal, Margaret and Tom flee to Troy, New York Troy is a city in New York, U.S., and the county seat of Rensselaer County. As of the 2000 census, the population was 49,170; in 1910, the population was 76,813. The city's motto is Ilium fuit, Troja est, which means "Troy was, Troy is. , where many Irish have immigrated to start anew. Here Margaret finds her expatriate countrymen in need of a Keener, but can she use her gift after watching her family, friends, and nation die? THE KEENERS is a superb historical tale that brings to life the blight of the Irish when the crops failed in 1846 and many fled to a new world to begin again. The key to Maura D. Shaw's tale is the historical perspective that comes across with depth whether Margaret struggles with the nightmare of Ireland or the new optimistic beginnings in Troy. Margaret is a terrific center holding the novel together as she never forgets her roots, but wonders if she can return to keening after being overwhelmed with so much death as she suffers from a form of battle fatigue bat·tle fatigue or bat·tle neurosis n. See combat fatigue. battle fatigue Posttraumatic stress disorder, see there syndrome yet knows she is needed. This is a fabulous mid nineteenth century story that historical fans will cherish. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion