The Harp in the South

The Harp in the South is a novel (ISBN 0-14-010456-9) by New Zealand born Australian author Ruth Park. Published in 1948, it portrays the life of a Catholic Irish Australian family living in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, which was at that time (post World War II) an inner city slum.

Plot

Hughie and Mumma Darcy live at Twelve-and-a-Half Plymouth Street in Surry Hills with their two teenaged daughters; Roie, a factory worker; and Dolour, who is still in school. Also residing in the house are the Darcy's tenants; Patrick Diamond, a Protestant Irishman; and Miss Sheily and her illegitimate adult son Johnny, who is mentally disabled. The novel follows their poor working class lives and those of their friends and neighbours.

Sequel and Prequel

In 1949 Ruth Park published Poor Man's Orange as a sequel to The Harp in the South. A prequel, Missus, was published in 1985.

Adaptations

The Harp in the South and Poor Man's Orange were both adapted into miniseries' in 1987.

Cast

• Mumma Darcy - (Anne Phelan)
• Hughie Darcy - (Martyn Sanderson)
• Roie Darcy - (Anna Hruby)
• Dolour Darcy - (Kaarin Fairfax)
• Grandma Kilker - (Gwen Plumb)
• Pat Diamond - (Syd Conabere)
• Miss. Sheily - (Melissa Jaffer)
• Charlie Rothe - (Shane Connor)
• Tommy Mendel - (Brandon Burke)
• Johnny Sheily - (Ken Radley)
• Mrs. Campion - (Lois Ramsay)
• Lick Jimmy - (Cecil Parkee)
• Delie Stock - (Carole Skinner)
• Father Cooley - (Charles Tingwell)

External links