Land | Maggie O'Farrell

Land: A Novel

Extended Synopsis

From the award-winning, bestselling author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait comes Land, a soaring historical novel set in Ireland in the years before and after the Great Hunger. In 1865, on a windswept peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic, Tomás and his ten-year-old son, Liam, are working for the massive Ordnance Survey project to map the whole of Ireland. In a country not long since ravaged by famine, the task is daunting, and Tomás is determined that his maps will serve as an enduring record of the disaster.

When an unsettling encounter in an ancient copse sends Tomás unexpectedly off course, his life and his family's world are upended. Terrified by the sudden cracks opening in his taciturn father, young Liam must find a way to finish the mapping and get them both home. Rich with mystery, buried treasure, persistent ghosts, and a particularly loyal dog, Land is a spellbinding epic of separation, reunion, and survival that reveals how, when it comes to both land and history, nothing ever truly goes away.

Author Biography

Maggie O'Farrell is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author celebrated for her brilliant historical fiction, including the acclaimed novels Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait. Her prose is widely renowned for its emotional depth, exquisite imagery, and vivid characterizations.

Reader Targeting

• Fans of atmospheric historical fiction and sweeping Irish literature.
• Readers who love Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed novels like Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait.
• Anyone captivated by stories of survival, family resilience, and the enduring weight of history.

Accolades & Key Highlights

• Award-Winning Author: Written by the bestselling author of Hamnet.
• Evocative Setting: Set against the dramatic backdrop of 1865 Ireland during the Ordnance Survey mapping project.
• Large Print Edition: Formatted for enhanced readability and comfortable reading experiences.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What time period is Land set in?
The novel is set in Ireland in 1865, reflecting on the years before and after the Great Hunger.

Who are the primary characters?
The story follows Tomás and his ten-year-old son, Liam, as they work on the Ordnance Survey mapping project.

Is Land part of a series?
No, Land is a standalone historical novel by Maggie O'Farrell.

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