HE'S FROM AWAY: Army Brat in Newfoundland

by Frank Rideout

This nonfictional work reflects the recollections of an octogenarian, fortunate enough to have lived & experienced the delights and challenges of a bygone era, long past in mainstream North America, in a fabled land where for generations time stood still.
Born into tumultuous times, he witnessed the protracted struggle to recover from the great depression, the strategic role his little country played in WWII and the cold war and the sometimes-contentious debate to join the Canadian confederation.
It is a tale of humor, greed, joy, fear, suffering, piety, hypocrisy, compassion, endurance, bravery and the indomitable spirit, ingenuity and resilience of the people of the diverse Newfoundland communities where he grew up.
Disasters at sea, the ever-present threat of communicable disease, acts of God and man-made calamities took a devastating toll on close-knit communities that were profoundly aware of the fragility of life.
On the lighter side, the telling of the tale is interspersed with anecdotes of everyday life, the storied dry wit of a persevering people and the antics of the author and his siblings, perpetual new kids in the parish, who would do anything to fit in.
There is something in this book for everyone.

227 pages, Paperback

Published July 3, 2023

Reviews

[Julia Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good little homespun recollection of growing up in Newfoundland. I gave it only three stars because it’s hard to read because of the author’s liberal use of commas.