The Oystercatcher of Southwark

By Erica Colahan

Description:

Philadelphia, 1897—When Italian Catholic immigrant Mary Paragano runs away to marry a Jewish boy named Jakob, she does not find her happily ever after. Instead, she is disowned by her father, abandoned by her husband, and pursued by a jealous gangster. She ends her life in an asylum, accused of trying to murder her own children.

Philadelphia, present-day—While Bella, Mary’s great-great-granddaughter, tries to cope with the pain of her recent divorce, she is approached by Sophie, a stranger claiming to be a relative of Jakob, the man who abandoned Mary to her horrible fate 125 years before. As the women piece together what happened on that tragic night, they soon realize things are not always what they seem. Was Jakob a scoundrel and Mary insane? And how have deceptions more than a century old affected their lives even in the present day?

Based on the actual events of the life of the author’s great-great-grandmother, The Oystercatcher of Southwark is a journey through the immigrant neighborhoods of South Philadelphia that explores the profound love of a mother for her children and the redemptive hope that transcends time.

Book Takeaway:

Both main characters of The Oystercatcher of Southwark—Mary in the past and Bella in the present—struggle with abandonment, betrayal, and mental confusion as they navigate difficult circumstances. Through it all, they hold on to their faith and ultimately discover their identity in Christ. My prayer is to inspire readers to do the same.

Why the author wrote this book:

I grew up outside Philadelphia hearing rumors that my great-great-grandmother Mary tried to drown her children and then herself in the Delaware River before being committed to an asylum. Captivated, I pictured the scene every time I passed the river. After years of research, I've brought Mary's story to life with a cast of fictional characters in my historical novel, The Oystercatcher of Southwark. I hope to bring this difficult story to light so we can learn from the past and heal generational wounds in the present.