Song of the Silent Harp

First in a series of 5 books,  this book shows the struggle of the Irish people who were dominated by the English.  They were not allowed to own property, teach their children, or speak their language.  They starved because their crops became the property of the King who used them to feed the English.  This book follows a young Irish widow and her struggle to find a new life and her pain on the death of her family members and her relationships with childhood male friends.  The writer puts the reader in the time and place of the event.  It is hard to put down.