THAT’S THE WHY

In 1969, seven-year-old Madge Whelan’s world changes when her mother becomes matron of a nursing home. Madge and her entire family suddenly find themselves in a strange new environment, full of characters and chaos. What follows is a heartwarming story of how a close-knit family adapts to their new life.

As the family expands, the Whelans purchase a new house, necessitating the hiring of a housekeeper. The arrival of Lizzie, an orphan from a convent, introduces Madge and the Whelan family to a different reality and the hardship that lies beneath the surface of their otherwise contented lives.

In this, her debut novel, author Margaret Harvey takes readers on a heartwarming journey through a vanished Ireland. Through the eyes of several lovable characters, Harvey tells a beautifully realised story that will remind readers of today of both the beauty and the hardship of those bygone times.