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Harps Upon the Willows
"Those who have the most to hope and nothing to lose will always be dangerous." -Edmund Burke It is 1766. Tipperary tenants are thrown off land they've farmed for generations and left to starve. Excessive rents and undue tithes leave families in rags. The Levellers, members of a secret agrarian society, vow to remove the landowners' boots pinned to their necks. Eveleen Scully's daughter, Nan, won't be held back. Despite the looming threat of the gallows, she's hell-bent on doing her bit. Sir Richard Lynche, baronet of Duncullen, and his cronies have the law on their side, and they've classified Leveller protests as treasonous. When Alistair Moore, local priest and boyhood friend of Sir Richard, speaks out against the gentry's oppression, he becomes a prime target in their battle to crush the rebels. Harps Upon the Willows picks up fifteen years after Aroon leaves off, focusing on true historical events that rocked eighteenth-century Tipperary.
397 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2017
64 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
M.B. Gibson
5 books28 followersMary Beth Gibson is the author of the award-winning Duncullen Saga, historical novels set in eighteenth-century Tipperary, Ireland, and Revolutionary War-era South Carolina.
Her newest release, Pryor Knowledge, explores everyday life in the early 19th century amidst the immensely popular world of horse racing.
M. B. Gibson is active in the Aiken Chapter of the South Carolina Writers Association and the Authors Club of Augusta. After teaching adolescents for over thirty years and raising three headstrong daughters, she now lives the quiet life with her husband in Blackville, South Carolina.
Her newest release, Pryor Knowledge, explores everyday life in the early 19th century amidst the immensely popular world of horse racing.
M. B. Gibson is active in the Aiken Chapter of the South Carolina Writers Association and the Authors Club of Augusta. After teaching adolescents for over thirty years and raising three headstrong daughters, she now lives the quiet life with her husband in Blackville, South Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 6, 2019
A stunning continuation of Aroon. Harps Upon the Willows follows the now familiar characters' hardships and the social injustices with which they dealt in 18th century Ireland. An unforgettable story that will stay with you long after you've read the last page. I can't wait for Book 3!
February 25, 2018
In 1766 Tipperary tenants are thrown off of their land starving with no place to go. The rent and tax money are going to the rich. The Leveller Members were a secret society that toke a stand for the poor and starving.
This is the second book in the series, it begins 15 years later in Ireland, Lord Richard is in charge of Duncullen since his father died. The maid, Eveleen is now older. Nancy, her daughter is 15 years old, and is hard to handle, roaming in the dark woods at night getting into trouble.
Much research was put into the novel; ' Harps Upon the Willows' is based on actual incidents that rocked the 18th century in Tipperary. The saga was exciting to read, more complex than the first book, I could not put this one down. I loved that it was based on true incidents in Ireland, even the court cases. So many adventures, secrets, and excitement. I recommend this book to all adults and teens that like history and Ireland.
This is the second book in the series, it begins 15 years later in Ireland, Lord Richard is in charge of Duncullen since his father died. The maid, Eveleen is now older. Nancy, her daughter is 15 years old, and is hard to handle, roaming in the dark woods at night getting into trouble.
Much research was put into the novel; ' Harps Upon the Willows' is based on actual incidents that rocked the 18th century in Tipperary. The saga was exciting to read, more complex than the first book, I could not put this one down. I loved that it was based on true incidents in Ireland, even the court cases. So many adventures, secrets, and excitement. I recommend this book to all adults and teens that like history and Ireland.
April 26, 2018
It's hard to say I "enjoyed" this book, it's full of the brutality the English perpetuated on the Irish in the eighteenth century. I tried to imagine my Irish ancestors living the way these poor souls did, and I am undone. However, the author did great research and crafted historically accurate situations, and the truth should never be forgotten.
July 13, 2020
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Harps Upon the Willows
Author: M B Gibson
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 18 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
17 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
18 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 11 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
17 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘A fast-moving plot with a highly interesting Irish setting. This seemed very well-research. I very much enjoyed it.’ Male reader, aged 43
‘Character-led story but with a twisting plot. The blurb is compelling – and simple – pulling the reader into the book. Excellent, haunting cover.’ Female reader, aged 49
‘With historical novels, I find it’s all in the detail. Then the author must find a way of exploring all that historical detail without boring the reader. The trick is to allow the characters to mingle with the setting, not force the setting on the reader in huge chunks. This author understands that. This is a compelling read with richly textured characters. I recommend reading the first book first to get the full enjoyment.’ Female reader, aged 54
‘Sadly, the abuse of the needy and powerless is as common now as it was back then. This author is a true historian and also a masterful storyteller. A very good mix!’ Male reader, aged 67
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly penned historical saga. A BRONZE medal winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Harps Upon the Willows
Author: M B Gibson
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 18 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
17 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
18 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 11 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
17 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘A fast-moving plot with a highly interesting Irish setting. This seemed very well-research. I very much enjoyed it.’ Male reader, aged 43
‘Character-led story but with a twisting plot. The blurb is compelling – and simple – pulling the reader into the book. Excellent, haunting cover.’ Female reader, aged 49
‘With historical novels, I find it’s all in the detail. Then the author must find a way of exploring all that historical detail without boring the reader. The trick is to allow the characters to mingle with the setting, not force the setting on the reader in huge chunks. This author understands that. This is a compelling read with richly textured characters. I recommend reading the first book first to get the full enjoyment.’ Female reader, aged 54
‘Sadly, the abuse of the needy and powerless is as common now as it was back then. This author is a true historian and also a masterful storyteller. A very good mix!’ Male reader, aged 67
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly penned historical saga. A BRONZE medal winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
March 14, 2018
Quite the Saga
Great story about an era with which I do not have much familiarity. I have heard of the Highland clearances, but this book described how the same thing took place in Ireland as well-to-do Protestant landowners forced the mostly Catholic farmers out of homes lived in by generations of their families and burned everything to the ground to create pasture for more lucrative cattle-raising. The dispossessed fought back, and there were martyrs. One plot thread focuses on a wrongly accused Catholic priest who cared for the people. Family connections highlighting how the those with power denied those considered beneath them. The book also featured a sweet romance that blossomed during the trials and losses portrayed, and how the pair carried on. A very thought-provoking story that held my interest to the end.
Great story about an era with which I do not have much familiarity. I have heard of the Highland clearances, but this book described how the same thing took place in Ireland as well-to-do Protestant landowners forced the mostly Catholic farmers out of homes lived in by generations of their families and burned everything to the ground to create pasture for more lucrative cattle-raising. The dispossessed fought back, and there were martyrs. One plot thread focuses on a wrongly accused Catholic priest who cared for the people. Family connections highlighting how the those with power denied those considered beneath them. The book also featured a sweet romance that blossomed during the trials and losses portrayed, and how the pair carried on. A very thought-provoking story that held my interest to the end.
April 26, 2019
This is a heart-wrenching, well-researched, and beautifully written tale elegantly entwined with a tragic story from Irish history. It's not an easy read, but it's such a good one, and a perfect follow-up to Aroon. I'm looking forward to the third book in the Duncullen Series!
March 18, 2021
More than a story...
Filled to the brim with more turns every other page it seems! Such intense research by MB Gibson to bring this brilliant saga to us. Enjoy each moment you spend reading. It should be a movie!
Filled to the brim with more turns every other page it seems! Such intense research by MB Gibson to bring this brilliant saga to us. Enjoy each moment you spend reading. It should be a movie!
April 12, 2020
A terrific read and continuing story of the Duncullen Saga. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters keep you enthralled with the story..........it is definitely a must read.
March 12, 2021
Great follow-up to Volume 1, Aroon! I’m off to purchase Volume 3!
October 4, 2022
Second in series. Just as good as the first. Historical fiction about Irish commonfolk being very "abused" by the landowners etc.
Very much recommend
Very much recommend
May 6, 2019
Horrors of living in 18th. Century Ireland, full of filth, classism, violence and bile. The fate of pure-in-heart priest Alistair Moore is central to this book, as he tends to the poor and is maligned by the powerful out of spite and greed. The book went on a little too long for me...perhaps the plot was too predictable so continued reading was a task to complete rather than a quest to see what happened.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews