Ellen B. Alden’s historical novel Yours Faithfully, Florence Burke tells the story of an Irish farmer who emigrated to West Springfield, Massachusetts to escape the ravages of the Great Famine and later faced the desolation of Civil War battlefields in Virginia as a volunteer in the Union Army. The book is based on a series of 19 letters written by Alden’s great-great grandfather. Alden will discuss her book and her research and writing at a Jan. 31 event at the Burns Library, at which time she will formally donate Florence Burke’s original letters and photographs to the library. The event will take place at 7 p.m. and copies of Alden’s book will be available for purchase and signing. Read more from the Irish Times | Boston Globe.