The Harp in the South is the debut novel by New Zealand-born Australian author Ruth Park. Published in 1948, it depicts the life of a Catholic Irish Australian family living in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, where money is scarce and life is not easy. Filled with beautifully drawn characters that will make you laugh as much as cry, Ruth Park's Australian classics take you from the barren landscapes of the outback to the colourful slums of Sydney with convincing depth, careful detail and great heart.