Ellie and the Harpmaker by Hazel Prior tells the story of Ellie and Dan. Told in the first person, the chapters alternate between the viewpoints of Ellie and Dan as they come to find they have much in common in their outlook on life.
Ellie, having dubbed herself the “Exmoor Housewife,” is going through a quiet crisis, mourning the death of her father. Ellie agrees with one of his last observations–that she is just drifting through her own life and needs to find a passion to fill it. To give herself some direction, she makes a list of things she wants to do before 40 and playing the harp is on the list.
She is totally surprised to discover Dan, a harp maker, who lives close to paths she loves to walk. Dan’s harps are astounding works of art. Dan is more concerned with matching his harps to the people who want them than being paid, and on a whim, he gives Ellie a cherrywood harp for her own.
Unable to keep the harp because of her husband’s objections, Ellie returns it. He who informs her that if she does not play this harp, it will live out its life played by no one. As Ellie returns each day to play her harp, a firm friendship develops between her and Dan as they find they share a love of the Exmoor countryside and its ever-changing beauty.
While Ellie is changing her life with the harp, unexpected news changes Dan’s own world. He finds he is the father of his former girlfriend’s child and has to persevere in being included in his son’s life.
The secret friendship between the two harp aficionados is discovered by Ellie’s husband Clive, who reacts both petulantly and violently by arranging to burn down Dan’s harp barn. How will Dan rebuild his life since everything has been destroyed, including his home, his tools and, most importantly, the thirty odd harps that perished in the blaze? How will Ellie go forward with her life now that she has left Clive, and well-meaning friends tell her that Dan no longer wishes to know her? These dilemmas are come to a sweet and satisfying conclusion. If you want to read this charming story, be sure to check it out via the Augusta-Richmond County Libraries’ LIBBY app today. For more information, contact your local branch library or the Libraries’ homepage at arcpls.org.
