You don't have to be Irish to appreciate Norah McCabe. Hers is an an American story of self-creation through sheer grit and imagination. This historical novel paints an authentic and compelling picture of what it means to be young, poor, and female longing for a better life in 1850s New York City...You'll root for Norah as {she} embarks on a dramatic journey to achieve a hard-won identity as a self-sufficient Irish-American woman in a turbulent time." Nancy Kelley, author of This Whispering Rod Norah is a story of a young immigrant woman battling hardship, poverty and prejudice in New York in the 1850's. It has obviously been lovingly researched. The portraits of Norah McCabe and her family are beautifully drawn and although at times the language is breathtakingly lyrical, this novel tells it like it was, grit and all. All the hard facts of life for an Irish immigrant are between these pages; poor housing, the bordellos, street fights, and the cut and thrust of the gang underworld. It is certainly not the usual run-of-the-mill historical and I can highly recommend it as a slice of real life for anyone with an interest in this period of New York history, particularly those with family or connections to Ireland. Deborah Swift, Author of The Lady's Slipper and The Gilded Lily Cover Work: Christine Horner