The Music Makers — E.V. Thompson

In the troubled countryside of Ireland, the 1840s are harrowing years; the seasons when potato crops fail and the gaunt specter of hunger stalks the landscape. Against this stark world stands Liam McCabe, one-time fisherman of Kilmar, now turning his hand to politics to offer his countrymen the thing they need most: a glimmer of hope. Never far away are the women in Liam's life: Kathie, the fiddler's winsome daughter, and Caroline, a dazzling lady of the aristocracy. But Liam will need more than just their support as he confronts new and dangerous enemies, spinning a web of corruption across his tormented nation.