The Island Harp

by Jeanne Williams

Set in the mid-19th-century Scottish Hebrides, this touching romance chronicles a spirited people living during a harsh time. When young Mairi's grandfather dies, her family is driven off the land on which their ancestors dwelled for centuries.

With the help of handsome and kind Captain Iain MacDonald, the remaining family members form a new community that must eke out an existence on the barren rocks by the sea. Through difficult circumstances, including potato blight, near-starvation and rough storms, Mairi keeps the new community together, preserving her people's heritage through the magical tales she unfolds with the help of her harp, Cridhe.

Her achievements win her many suitors, but Mairi anxiously awaits Iain's rare visits, though their disparate social standings--he is a gentleman--means they can never marry. When she has his child, the community stands by her, and soon a change in circumstance improves her lot.

Genres: Fiction, Scotland, Historical Fiction

338 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1993

About the author

Pseudonyms: Megan Castell, Jeanne Crecy, Jeanne Foster, Deirdre Rowan, Kristian Michaels, J.R. Williams

Reviews

[Kitti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical drama/romance. More interesting than fun.

[Deborah Gaspar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun.

[Janis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn’t buy it that an entire extended family would look to a 17 yr old girl as their leader and faithfully follow any plan she came up with, or that all of them were successful. Book didn’t work for me.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in the mid-19th-century Scottish Hebrides, this touching romance chronicles a spirited people living during a harsh time. When young Mairi's grandfather dies, her family is driven off the land on which their ancestors dwelled for centuries.

With the help of handsome and kind Captain Iain MacDonald, the remaining family members form a new community that must eke out an existence on the barren rocks by the sea. Through difficult circumstances, including potato blight, near-starvation and rough storms, Mairi keeps the new community together, preserving her people's heritage through the magical tales she unfolds with the help of her harp, Cridhe.

Her achievements win her many suitors, but Mairi anxiously awaits Iain's rare visits, though their disparate social standings--he is a gentleman--means they can never marry. When she has his child, the community stands by her, and soon a change in circumstance improves her lot.

I thought Mauiri was so headstrong that she was annoying.

[Jennifer Morefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was a bit difficult to get into at first, I ended up enjoying it. There was a lot of Scottish vocabulary that I didn't know and it was a bit slow paced in the beginning. As soon as I got into the story, I found myself really enjoying it. The characters were strong and vibrant. In particular, Mairi, who was a great heroine and flew in the face of propriety for the love of life and happiness. A great love story that was not predictable. A worthy read.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because it took place in the 1840's. It was a love story about a seventeen year old girl named Mairi, who's family lived on an island near Scotland. The people were poor and lived a very simple life off the land and sea paying rent to the land owner. The only thing they owned worth anything is a harp which has been in their family for generations.

[Gail Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book it so reminded me of my mother and grandmothers who where born in Scotland. I listen to this book and also loved the narrator.Have also read the second one in the series The Daughter of the Storm loved that one to know I am waiting to find the third one and the fourth one is yet to come out.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a quick read, but interesting so far. 1844 Scottish/Irish Historical Romance. Not bad, but not one I'd recommend.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has a similarity with the follow-up book for Gone With the Wind that I didn't think was accurate. Perhaps I was wrong about the Irish and how they feel about women in the 1800's.

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predictable plot but interesting bits of history within the story.

[Jennifer Mahoney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story but the ending felt rushed.