Maggie O'Farrell's novel 'Land' takes readers to a famine-ravaged yet resilient Ireland
Podcast: NPR's Book of the DayPublished On: Tue Jun 09 2026
Description: What happened to those who remained in Ireland after the Great Famine of 1865? It’s a question that fascinated Maggie O’Farrell, author of Hamnet, as she began her newest novel Land. Drawing on fragments of Irish history from her great-great-grandfather, O’Farrell’s Land is about… land, but it’s also about the myths, stories, and spirits that persist across generations. In today’s episode, O’Farrell joins NPR’s Scott Simon for a conversation about Land, and why — despite geographic and societal upheaval — she believes that “human hearts and human minds change that much at all.”To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedaySee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy
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