Hereafter: The Telling Life of Ellen O'Hara

by Vona Groarke

A lyrical portrait of a young Irish woman reinventing herself at the turn of the twentieth century in America

Ellen O’Hara was a young immigrant from Ireland at the end of the nineteenth century who, with courage and resilience, made a life for herself in New York while financially supporting those at home. Hereafter is her story, told by Vona Groarke, her descendant, in a beautiful blend of poetry, prose, and history.

In July 1882, Ellen O’Hara stepped off a ship from the West of Ireland to begin a new life in New York. What she encountered was a world of casual racial prejudice that characterized her as ignorant, dirty, and feckless, the butt of many jokes. From the slim range of jobs available to her she, like, many of her kind, found a position as a domestic servant, working long hours and living in to save on rent and keep. After an unfortunate marriage, Ellen determined to win financial security on her own, and eventually opened a boarding house where her two children were able to rejoin her.

Vona Groarke builds this story from historical fact, drawing from various archives for evidence of Ellen. However, she also considers why lives such as Ellen’s seem to leave such a light trace in such records and fills in the gaps with memory and empathetic projection. Ellen—scrappy, skeptical, and straight-talking—is the heroine of Hereafter, whose resilience animates the story and whose voice shines through with vivid clarity. Hereafter is both a compelling account of an incredible figure and a reflection on how one woman’s story can speak for more than one life.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Ireland, Fiction, Irish Literature, Poetry

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2022

Reviews

[Athena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written as only a poet who knows how to weave words into proverbial roses of prose, this is a love story, an ode to homage of an earlier ancestorial female whose travels found thru the writer's research are courageous, heartbreaking, challenging, and almost overwhelming. Being of Irish descent myself, i fould in this read a lyrical old friend.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was about the life of an Irish immigrant to America in the early 19th century as told by her great granddaughter. Told in prose form, so much reminded me of my own grandmother, who came to America in the early 1900’s and also worked as a personal maid. So much in the story was similar to my grandmother’s experience. I read right through this book and was brought back to many of the stories my grandmother told me.

[Arthur Morrill III · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hereafter: The Telling Life of Ellen O'Hara,” by Vona Groarke (ISBN 9781479817511), Published Date: 15 Nov 2022, earns five stars.

“Hereafter” is an astounding piece of work, full of life, pathos, and the spirit of hope. It is a tale of Ellen O’Hara, an Irish immigrant who arrived in New York in the 1880s. Her courageous journey to establish a life in the United States while supporting family back in Ireland occurred often, but far more often, such journeys were not documented.

In the process of being assimilated, she experienced the discrimination that many immigrants face, in her case, for being Irish and a woman. Hers is story of survival and ultimately thriving, which allowed her to bring her children and a sister from Ireland to the United States to be with her

While “Hereafter” is Ellen O’Hara’s story, it could be the story of millions of immigrants. What stands this story apart from others is it is beautifully told by her descendant, Vona Groarke, via an evocative narrative, poetry, and more—all complemented by a well-researched history. Notably, it is such a clever book; one you can’t put down and one your feel privileged to have read.

Sincere thanks to the author, and NYU Press, for granting this reviewer the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible.

[Mary Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book about the author’s great grandmother who immigrated to America in the late 1800s. She tells how she found work as a maid then eventually married and had children . After her husband leaves her, she has a hard decision to make to save her familyTold in prose and verse - A story of sadness and perseverance.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hereafter
By Vona Groarke

This is the story of a woman who is trying to make a connection with her great-grandmother, Ellen O'Hara, who came to America during the Irish potato famine.

The storyteller manages to discover a great many facts about those times and the Irish who came to New York and other New World places in order to keep those left back in Ireland afloat. However she is frustrated by the gaping holes she discovers in her more specific search for information beyond the bare bones facts concerning Ellen's life. She learns that her great-grandmother came to New York; that she worked in service in affluent private homes; that she eventually married a John Grady and bore a son and a daughter. Subsequently John disappears from the narrative and Ellen returns to Ireland to leave her children with her parents until she can make a home for them. She eventually – after 11 years – has opened her own boardinghouse and brings her children home.

All this the narrator finds, but she never gets close to what she really wants – to know intimately the thoughts and heart of her great-grandmother.

I found this book to be moderately interesting, though I'm not sure what the author wants the read to gain from it.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touched my heart. It is a uniquely written record of a great-granddaughter's searching for the immigrant story of her great-grandmother who came to New York City in 1882 to earn wages as a live-in servant girl to send money home to her struggling parents and siblings in Ireland.
It could have been my story, as I have searched many records trying to find the story of my Irish ancestors, although I had very little information about them, to begin with. Author Groarke at least had the name of her great-grandmother, while I did not even have that to help in my search for the first of my Irish ancestors who came to America. I have searched online records, censuses, ancestry DNA, cemetery grounds, etc., all hoping to find more of my ancestors' stories. In reading Groake's poignant story about her great-grandmother Ellen O'Hara, I could imagine what I would write if I did find traces of my first American ancestors. If I could imagine and honor their lives by telling their stories the best I could, as Groarke did. I often feel that, sadly, Americans do not know the struggles and prejudices their first American ancestors endured to begin their life here. Their struggles and dreams led to the opportunities their descendants would have one day. Reading the imagined story of Ellen O'Hara, which was presented on one page, along with researched source facts about the life of early Irish immigrant servants and boarding house owners on the opposing page of Groarke's book, helped me understand how the mear fragment of a name could be developed into a life story of one of the many that came to America during the years of the Irish diaspora. This may not be a book everyone would appreciate, but for those struggling to fund more about past ancestors, it is an encouragement to keep searching, learning, and imagining.

Thank you to The Book Club Cookbook, NYU Press, and author Vona Groake for a copy of this precious book. All review opinions are my own.

[Nancy Mazgajewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, a big thank you to NYU Press and the author, Vona Groake, for allowing me to read this advanced copy of the book. It is a story I will treasure and has kept me up at night.

This is the story of the author's great-grandmother based on stories from her mother, and much research. The author has taken the liberty to flesh out the life of Ellen O'Hara from what little she has gleaned from her mother and much laborious research to discover what Ellen's life was like after her immigration to New York City from Ireland. It is beautifully written much like a psalm as she pays homage to a woman she has never met.

I get it. I totally get it. I have been immersed in research through Ancestry to put together the family I never knew from County Antrim in Northern Ireland. I have found cousins that I never knew I had through DNA research. So I am very familiar with census records, birth and marriage records.

While the author gets a fellowship to New York City (from Ireland) to learn about Ellen O'Hara's life in NYC, I am applying for dual citizenship to Northern Ireland to find the roots of my great grandmother who immigrated to Buffalo, NY in the late 1800's with her small children after her husband died.

In this book I learned about the remittances sent back to Ireland to help the family pay their bills and rent during the potato famine. I learned about the sacrifice made mostly by the daughters of Irish families who took positions as servants so room and board was provided for them in this mysterious city of Nw York.

I loved this book, but I totally identify with the author. Would others who are not immersed in the research of their ancestry; I'm not so sure.

Thank you again for the privilege to preview this book.

[Eunice Chin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography follows the trail of the Irish diaspora, especially during the Potato Famine years. The author leads us up a line of her own ancestors, mainly regarding her own great-grandmother Ellen. This Ellen would have been young and single like a great many of her peers who had sailed forth to America in droves, to be servant girls in order to send funds back to their starving, destitute families.

The bread crumb trail was somewhat lacking so Vona Groacke (the author) surmises much based on history of such Irish lasses, in general, and bits and pieces she managed to ferret out of various archives and from relatives' talk to piecemeal them together.

It was interesting to a certain degree and I did learn somewhat of the plight and circumstances these brave young ladies endured. However, I also got bogged down in the telling, frequently, sloughing through in fits and starts to find those morsels, which would attract me to carry on to the end.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

October 2022

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

[Pete Monaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the marriage of fact and fiction in this book. It was fascinating to learn how much women contributed to the families back home contrary to the myth that is male dominated. A very vivid picture is built about how much was sacrificed and how hard they worked to create and make a better life for those around them and back in Ireland. The most moving part of the story is the tale of the children being left behind from a young age and then thrust back into American life in teenage years. A terrible parting for all and I wonder if the children coped with it OK? Is it the staying or the going that’s worse? There are many resulting problems in any diaspora because of this situation – mental health, alcohol and drug abuse etc. I also found the theory put forward of the indirect contribution to Irish independence being achievable because of the money these women sent home very interesting and fairly indisputable. Throughout the book really felt that you are talking with a ghost in the most positive way.

[Denise O'Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from @thebookclubcookbook for an honest review after reading with my book club.
Vona Groarke has written a poignant story about Ellen O'Hara, a young Irish immigrant, who is her descendant. The author makes use of poetry, prose, and history to tell Ellen's story; a story that is not unlike that of many others coming to America. As the reader, I soon became accustomed to the different mediums the author used to tell this story- poetry, prose and research. There is no mistaking the length of research that the author put into her book, and I appreciate that as a historical fiction lover. I liked the inclusion of passenger manifests, photos and other supporting information the author included. Ellen's story helped me understand why it is often hard for us to follow the history of our own families. Give this book a try. You won't be sorry. Vona Groarke is a beautiful writer.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This emotional peek into the life of an Irish immigrant is a beautiful blend of poetry and prose.
I feel like I am the perfect audience for this engaging little read, having also poured hours into researching the lives of a few of my ancestors. It is that deep dive into the records that yields the most satisfying results, but also the most frustration when one makes the effort to "add flesh to the bones" to tell the story of those who came before us. I felt the pang of heartbreak glimpsing into the trials that Ellen went through to make her new life in America.
I love the way Ms. Groarke shared her findings, her feelings, and her process, all in a way that I find so enjoyable.
I feel very fortunate to have won this title in a Goodreads giveaway, since it suits me so much. I call that the "Luck of the Irish" on that one! Thank You!

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn to the subject matter because my grandmother was born in Belfast, orphaned at 7 and came to Canada in 1908 when she was 13. She also worked as a housemaid and a factory worker. She was widowed at 35 with two children She was able to keep her home by taking in boarders.
I wanted to love this story (I read it on St. Patrick’s Day) but I just couldn’t warm up to Ellen. Perhaps it was a little too dry with facts. Perhaps it would have been better told by Ellen, rather than a conversation between her and her descendant. I felt the connection between them, but I felt left out of their relationship.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using scant public documents available, the author painstakingly pieced together the shards of her great grandmother’s life.
I loved all the family research that was conducted. I was surprised at some of the informations Groake uncovered and wondered about the voids she couldn’t fill.
I was aghast at a revelation late in the book, severing bonds between a grandmother and granddaughter that was totally unnecessary,
I appreciated the prose part because poetry isn’t my thing.
Thanks to Netgalley and NYU Press for the advance read.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vivid, creative unearthing and reimagining of a life as the author grapples with the impossibility of knowing the past. I loved the various mediums used to tell Ellen's story, from poems told in her voice to direct quotes from primary sources and essays written from the author to Ellen. The questions the author poses are ones anyone who does historical research or genealogy must turn over at some point: when we try to recreate our ancestors' lives and world, how do we honor them while recognizing our own biases and assumptions? What are our responsibilities as storytellers?

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books reads like a poem and/or riddles. It is history or is it fiction? Could be even fantasy. You are taken back to the mid 1800's (history mixed with fiction) to current days (non-fiction) to a visiting spirit (fantasy or non-fiction depending on your views of such things). The author, Vona Groarke, is looking for pieces of information from her Great Grandmothers past to write her story. When she doesn't find it, she makes it up as she goes along.

[Michele Dawson Haber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a speculative memoirist and I'm so grateful to have read it. I learned so much of the Irish immigrant experience. I loved how the author doggedly pursues every archival scrap, endures fruitless searches, and then fills in the gaps with imagination, longing, and love. And, of course, I was awed by the beautiful, emotional intensity of the author's writing. Thank you, Vona Groarke, for this gift.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw Vona speak in NYC this winter about this book. Everyone should read it - it is about her great grandmother who came to New York from Ireland in 1882. Vona weaves together family stories and whatever she can find out about her great grandmother with history, sonnets, ghostly visitations from the ancestor, and stories of other Ellen O'Haras who arrived in 1882, most to do domestic service. The book ends up being about making a history and a story about the lives of those we never hear about, those who disappear into the past. I'm only partway through, but I'm already in 5 star land!
Finished it, loved it, read it! It makes you wonder about your own ancestors, lost stories, ghosts, how to recover and reimagine and talk to the past.

[Derek Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about Ellen O'Hara an immigrant from Ireland at the end of the 19th century. She made a life for herself in New York and was supporting her family in Ireland. She found a job as a domestic servant. This is a story about survival and determination. Thank you for the opportunity of receiving this book. I have already passed it on

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an okay read . Kind of hard to follow . Not the best book I have ever read but certainly not the worst either . I did very much like the descriptions in the book I could picture them in my mind . I think this family has some issues , I mean whose does not ? right ? I did however think that this family loves each other just the same . I think I will leave it at that .

[Fiona Togher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The tentacles of the past reaching into the present, binding generations together. And recognising the untold stories of so many Irish women, it could be any of our great grandmothers, and their contribution to and role in shaping our modern Ireland. Probably one of the first to recognise that contribution.

[Jill Eastland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it like listening to someone recounting their investigations into the family genealogy, making leaps, and sentimentalising the story to enhance it and make themselves feel more remarkable by extension. The fact of young women leaving and sending money home to support their families was interesting and important, but the novel that was built around this didn't stand for me.

[T P Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really compelling mixture of historical narrative, family reflection and poetry. I'm not quite sure what this is but I like it! Gives a fabulous insight into the lives of female migrants to the USA. Fabulous.

[Lisa Elkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well written. I had no idea the depth of research that goes into ancestry tracking or the many available avenues for doing so.

[Kelly Roberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quiet little book, more meditation and reflection dashed with some poetry.

[Priya Ele]

read selections

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical + Fiction, at its finest. I never knew non-fiction could be this poetic; I never knew fiction could be this real.

[Oona · Rating 5 out of 5]

actually crying at how beautiful this was

[Murran Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly beautiful and heartbreaking immigrant tale.