First published 1998
In the wake of the Irish potato famine, Thomas Keneally's "Great Shame" follows the forced migration of thousands of Irish to Australia. Amid the hunger and disease ravaging their homeland, the Donnelly family is torn apart, their fates scattered across the British Empire. As they struggle to survive and find each other, they must confront the brutal realities of colonial rule and the long shadow of their country's darkest chapter.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, 19th-century, historical-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, forced-migration
Setting: Ireland, Australia, British Empire
Period: Irish Potato Famine
Hardcover · Doubleday, 1998
Content warnings: colonialism