Where White Horses Gallop

by Beatrice MacNeil

FROM AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR BEATRICE MACNEIL COMES THE ACCLAIMED STORY OF THOSE WHO WERE SENT INTO BATTLE— AND THOSE WHO WERE LEFT AT HOME. In 1941, three young men enlist in the legendary Cape Breton Highlanders and sail off to war, leaving their families to wait and wonder at home in Beinn Barra, Nova Scotia. Fisherman Hector MacDonald, gifted musician Benny Doucet, and hopeful medical student Calum MacPherson are all eager for the excitement of life in the famous regiment, but on the homefront, they leave behind only the anxiety and pain of their loved ones. Heart-wrenchingly told in smart, lyrical, evocative prose, Where White Horses Gallop is a novel that strikes at the heart of war in its glory, and in all its stark legacy.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Canada, Book Club, Wwii Fiction, Historical

335 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Noran Satkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully heart-wrenching story of those that fight the war and those left behind. I was so very pleased with Beatrice MacNeil's writing.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe my favorite of 2009. I cared so deeply for these people and this place. MacNeil loves them, too.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the writing. Interesting to read about Canadians in the war, definitely worth the read. The story is moving and so well written.

[Cynthia Roach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beatrice MacNeil’s prose is written like poetry… a pleasure to read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nearly a five star...loved the setting, the intimacies of the small community. Discussing at Book Club tonight. Hope the group loved it also.

My review dated March 1, 2008: Settle in and enjoy getting to know the people of Beinn Barra in the highlands of cape Breton, Canada as they endure the seperation of father from son, and of friend from friend, during the long days of World War II. Fiddler Benny Doucet, prospective med student Calum MacPherson,and fisherman Hector MacDougall all decide to enlist with the Cape Breton Highlanders never expecting the war to last long enogh for them to be sent off to Europe. Left behind to wait out their absence are Calum's handicapped brother Hamish and the trio's former schoolmate and chum, Alex MacGregor, who has his own reasons for avoiding the conflict. MacNeil unfolds her tale with a skilled hand, leading the reader along at a leisurely pace, as if sharing intimate tales over the course of a long journey.

[Marie (UK) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book. The narrative is emotional from beginning to end there were so many times i was nearly in tears. A tale of war, love, loss and sheer getting on with it. There was so much of this book i wanted to underline - the language was just sensational
a bullet's path - "a searing sound of metal feasting on bone"
How i wish i had this on kindle my highlighting function would have been going berserk.

I bought this book at a craft stall on holiday and will certainly be looking for more of her books

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully written book was a difficult read because of its vivid descriptions and the emotional attachments formed with the characters. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to learn more about the far reaching repercussions of war and most especially to those who glorify war.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and heartbreaking story of four young men from a small Cape Breton village, three of whom join up to fight in WWII and one who does not. Excellent!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The previous reviewers describe the book beautifully. Herein lies the heart of Cape Breton - the music, the people and the sea. Thanks Liz for sharing it with me.

[Amy Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Harold Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, while sad, will make you want to dance with dandelions.

[Carol McKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very powerful book - I read it in one sitting.

This novel traces the effects of war on those who fight and on those who are left behind in Beinn Barra. 3 young men enlist in the Cape Breton Highlanders early in WW2 and sail to England in November 1941. They head off in their kilts, marching as the pipes play.

The Cape Breton Highlanders, with their motto of The Breed of Manly Men, are forefront in many battles in France, Italy and Germany. The last action was the capture of the port of Delfzijl, Holland and the liberation of the Dutch people.

A poem, Request for the Fallen by Joe Oldford, DCM of the Cape Breton Highlanders is reproduced at the end of the book. The last verse reads:

Then we, Thy sons, the fallen,
That freedom might remain,
Will sleep in peace, and knowing
We have not died in vain.

A brilliant tale of how the war affects families in small towns and rural areas who watch their sons go off to war and how PTSD (tho of course it wasn’t called that then) affects them all. This is not just about Cape Breton, this is a universal story.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful tale about four friends whose otherwise idyllic life on Canada's Cape Breton Island is disrupted by personal and global tragedy in the form of World War II. There are passages of great poetic and symbolic imagery and beauty, but what comes through loud and clear is the exorbitant price war exacts from all whose lives it touches. There is a tendency, especially in tales about WWII, to treat the aftermath of the war for the victors as a "and they all lived happily ever after" after-thought, and MacNeil takes her tale in the opposite direction. As the father of one of the four main protagonists says toward the end of the novel, "when I returned home from the last war, I realized that victory and defeat are closer than most people realize." The character of Benny Doucet, fiddle-player par excellence, is especially well-drawn, as thanks to the artistry of people like Natalie MacMaster, the world is no stranger to the beauty of Cape Breton traditional music.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book at the same time as reading Ducks by Kate Beaton, so it provided some unexpected historical context for the Cape Breton that Beaton is so homesick for. In the early 20th century, it was still a place where people could make a living by fishing and farming, which is no longer the case by the time Beaton has to leave the island to pay off her student loans by working in the oil fields in Alberta.
Where White Horses Gallop is beautifully written, and provides a completely non-glorified account of what it was like for young Canadians to go overseas for WWI. It's a pretty grim read, there's lots of death and not many happy endings, but I felt like I learned some new things about the Canadian experience in that war, and on the east coast.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beatrice MacNeil has a lyrical way of writing. Very visual, can clearly see the scene she is describing. The storyline will tear at your heartstrings. Very well written. I was lucky to meet the author last September while on a cruise to Nova Scotia. She was signing books at the Halifax Market. The next day we learned that our son had passed away unexpectedly. Our vacation came to a sudden halt. I had forgotten that I purchased this book until I "re-found" it recently. So with it goes a bundle of mixed feelings.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant novel about five young men from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia during the years 1939 to 1947. Three of the young men join the Cape Breton Highlanders and go to Europe to fight during World War II. The fourth and fifth young men stay behind. Lyrical and heartwrenching novel.
I bought this book at the Mabou farmers market years ago.

[Sherita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this book directly from author at a fair during a port stop on a Canadian cruise. I bought two books from her, actually. This was the first one I read and I fell in love with the author’s writing, as well as the story. What a heartbreaking tale. I’ve loaned it out to my friends several times. I always want it back, though, because the author autographed it for me. 😃

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some beautifully written paragraphs. Some confusing paragraphs. The story takes place, mostly, in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and the author is from Cape Breton.
It's a sad story about the men (boys, really) from a small town who sign up to fight in WWII and those they leave behind.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Canadian historical fiction story I've read in the last few weeks. Beautifully written and a setting that makes me want to explore my own family history. The stories of four friends, Highlanders of Cape Breton and their experiences during WW2 at home and abroad.

[CAW · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book by a Canadian author. Beautifully written story of 3 friends who head to WWII in England and one that remains behind, and how their lives and the lives of their families are affected by their decisions.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! I cried through most of the book. I loved the author's writing style.

[SR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting prospective on the Cape Breton Highlander fighting squad in WW11. They made huge contributions and suffered horrible hardships in war and home after the war. Good job 3.5 stars

[Kelly Greenwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moving novel about the losses from WW11 from the perspective of residents of a village in Cape Breton. 3 friends go to war while a 4th stays home.

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting perspective of WWII. Characters that capture the difficulties of living during this time in history.

[Nat Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad

[Katie W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the saddest books I remember reading. I don’t think I could recommend it, it was so incredibly sad. And the prologue gave away too much.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when authours are so talented they can write a beautiful book about an ugly thing. I had to re-read so many sentences because they were so lyrical.

[Janet Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story about the impact of war on a small community in the east coast of Canada .

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

During WW2, my late uncle fought in Ortona, Italy. He would only say to me that he had seen things no man should ever have to witness. He physically survived the war but his soul was scared forever. MacNeil poignantly, unflinchingly painted word pictures of my uncle's visions. And I finally understood.

From wee Hamish's lovely innocent world, to Napoleon Doucet's dignity, to the depth of Gunner MacDonald, to the demons invading the sensitive, wounded soul of Alex MacGregor, to the....I could go on and on....

Beatrice MacNeil, thank you for this gift !

[Fred Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant, sad and engrossing; Three young men sail off to war leaving behind yearning, frightened, lonely parents. These four young men also represent a culture and a way of life, the Scottish communities of cape Breton Nova Scotia, their Gallic language and their music, the pipes and the fiddle. Two young men return home disabled with post traumatic stress disabilities. Not all return to Cape Breton. we are introduced to he Cape Breton Highlanders, an army unit from Cape Breton. Often as I read this sensitive, soul touching story tears were streaming down my face. A wonderful rea!