Mary Arrigan – författare

Nobody ever passed the old Garvan house alone; gossip and suspicion surrounded it. But when an eerie cry draws Meg, Pete and Harvey into its grounds, little do they expect to be swept up into a love story that spans the century. What part do the dilapidated house, a mysterious old man and a strange bird play in this story and how can Meg, Pete and Harvey right the wrongs of history?

“Imagine digging a hole in the ground and finding enough wealth to live in comfort for ever!”Esty’s childhood world is shattered when her father is killed defending starving Irish peasants. Suddenly forced to leave home and work as a maid, it is only the dream of gold and a better life in Australia that keeps her going. With stubborn determination, she gets her family to the goldfields of Ballarat. There, harsh conditions, deceit and rebellion threaten to thwart them... but nothing is going to destroy Esty’s dream.This gripping adventure story by an award-winning Irish writer tells a timeless tale of hope and courage.Historical noteThe Great Irish Famine of 1845-51 was caused by the repeated failure of the potato crop, Ireland’s staple food. It devastated the Irish population. One million people starved to death, while a further million emigrated to America and Australia. Many died of disease on the overcrowded `coffin’ ships.The Whiteboys were a secret society of young men who, in their uniform of white shirts, rebelled against the landlords who were forcing the rural poor from their holdings by imposing exorbitant rents.In the 1850s, the Colony of Victoria was under British rule. When gold was discovered in Ballarat, the Governor imposed on the diggers an exorbitant monthly tax – the equivalent of a month’s earnings – which they had to pay whether they found gold or not. In 1854, the tax collection was increased to twice a week. This, along with the fact that the diggers had no vote and, therefore, no say in the running of the diggings, led to the Eureka Stockade uprising.

Note on Beatrix PotterBeatrix Potter was born in 1866 to well-to-do parents in London. As was the fashion of the time, her mother had little to do with the baby, entrusting her to the care of a strict nurse. For the rest of her life, Mrs Potter was a distant and unaffectionate mother. As a little girl, Beatrix's lonely existence was relieved by reading. She was particularly inspired by Tenniel's illustrations to Alice in Wonderland and throughout her childhood and adolescence she filled dozens of sketchbooks with detailed drawings of animals, flowers, house interiors and landscapes. Rupert Potter, Beatrix's father, a talented amateur photographer, was friendly with the painter John Everett Millais, and often took Beatrix to visit his studio where she learnt to mix colours. Her fondness for rabbits began with Benjamin Bouncer, the first of many pet rabbits that she drew - eventually becoming the Mopsy, Topsy, Cottontail and Peter of her famous illustrated letter to a young, sick friend. This led to her charming series of little books being published by Frederick Warne.Beatrix's love for the countryside came initially from her visits to her Potter grandparents' rambling house, Camfield, in Hertfordshire, which she described as 'the place I love best in the world'. In the late 1800s, the family began taking their annual summer holidays in the Lake District, and it was here that Beatrix found her cherished niche. In 1905, with the money she earned from her books, she bought Hill Top farm and began breeding her beloved Herdwick sheep. In 1913 she married William Heelis and moved to nearby Castle Cottage. But Beatrix held on to Hill Top and divided her time between both houses.Although Beatrix liked children, they were rarely allowed into Hill Top. Because of her difficult relationship with her mother, Beatrix would have got quite a kick out of playing jazz on the oh-so-precious gramophone as she does in this story.