On Canaan's Side by Sebastian Barry

I don't want to describe this story because it 's been so beautifully and masterfully written that reading it without any knowledge of the plot increases the enjoyment. Barry is an Irish writer  who also wrote The Secret Scripture, which I read some years ago, and he uses much the same technique in this novel. 

I have been known to express the opinion that most male writers are verbose - like John Irving or Ken Follett- but Barry is almost a minimalist, although his descriptions and the poetry of his language are quite extensive.

It's a story of love and loss, well worth delving into and savouring the writing.