In January 1847, in the worst winter of the Irish famine, Asenath Hatch Nicholson began her one-woman relief operation in Dublin: a soup-kitchen, visits to the homes of the poor and distributing bread in the streets. These efforts marked the start of a campaign, as she travelled the country, aiming to alleviate the starving conditions in Dublin and the West of Ireland and simultaneously "bring the Bible to the Irish poor". This book is the narrative of an eye-witness who became a part of the lives of those she helped; feeding, clothing and cooking for the most needy. It has observations of individuals and events, but it also examines the circumstances that led to and sustained the famine, condeming those in power who mismanaged resources.
