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Breaking Ranks
Three distinct stories about three distinct men, but with one thing in common - they all paid the price for standing up for what they believed.
From a great writer, three great stories about conscience and consequence.This is the story of three men - a doctor, a soldier and a judge. They are men of rare achievement. The doctor has the gift of saving others but not himself. The soldier disobeys orders and abandons his command post in a bid to die with his men. The judge cares more to uphold a principle than save himself from ruin. All three defy convention in a way that exacts a price. The first two, Dr John Saxby and Brigadier Reginald Miles, destroy themselves. The death of the judge, Peter Mahon, is hastened by his stand for truth and justice on behalf of the victims of New Zealand's worst air disaster. "New Zealand seems to have the knack of neutralising those who try to foist moral greatness on their countrymen," James McNeish writes. In Breaking Ranks, the author celebrates three brave men whose guiding spirit - subversion? anarchy? - challenges our assumptions of what it is to be a good New Zealander.
From a great writer, three great stories about conscience and consequence.This is the story of three men - a doctor, a soldier and a judge. They are men of rare achievement. The doctor has the gift of saving others but not himself. The soldier disobeys orders and abandons his command post in a bid to die with his men. The judge cares more to uphold a principle than save himself from ruin. All three defy convention in a way that exacts a price. The first two, Dr John Saxby and Brigadier Reginald Miles, destroy themselves. The death of the judge, Peter Mahon, is hastened by his stand for truth and justice on behalf of the victims of New Zealand's worst air disaster. "New Zealand seems to have the knack of neutralising those who try to foist moral greatness on their countrymen," James McNeish writes. In Breaking Ranks, the author celebrates three brave men whose guiding spirit - subversion? anarchy? - challenges our assumptions of what it is to be a good New Zealander.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 28, 2017
An in depth and perceptive behind the scenes look into the lives of two New Zealanders I hadn't heard of and one that was familiar to me, all whom defied the establishment and perhaps paid the ultimate price, either by choice or not. well worth reading.
February 26, 2021
Brave issues to write about. Well researched, warmly brought in thoughts and opinions of close friends. A must read for Nzers
March 12, 2022
Book club read. Well-written and researched. Interesting insights into three men, only one of whom I had heard of.
May 21, 2022
Beautifully written - conversational but clear like running water. A pleasure to read.
The subject matter is interesting, does New Zealand, the well-behaved little brother to macho Australia, have a maverick streak? McNeish is suggesting it does, though the Establishment (cue for Darth Vadar music) wins in the end. The 3 men in this book decide that humanity, loyalty and truth matter more than efficiency, safety and maintaining the hierarchy.
Reginald Miles comes across as a conformist who craves structure, and may be haunted by his war experiences. He is the odd one out. Saxby and Mahon recovered better from their wars, though there with a question mark over Saxby. Unlike Miles, their life's work was to come after not during WW2. They both had an interest in literature and poetry that was not in the soldier's makeup.
I don't totally buy the author's argument, New Zealand is still quite conformist, however I accept that their names will be remembered long after the small bureaucratic lives around them are forgotten.
Not sure how much that matters, explode the Death Star anyway.
The subject matter is interesting, does New Zealand, the well-behaved little brother to macho Australia, have a maverick streak? McNeish is suggesting it does, though the Establishment (cue for Darth Vadar music) wins in the end. The 3 men in this book decide that humanity, loyalty and truth matter more than efficiency, safety and maintaining the hierarchy.
Reginald Miles comes across as a conformist who craves structure, and may be haunted by his war experiences. He is the odd one out. Saxby and Mahon recovered better from their wars, though there with a question mark over Saxby. Unlike Miles, their life's work was to come after not during WW2. They both had an interest in literature and poetry that was not in the soldier's makeup.
I don't totally buy the author's argument, New Zealand is still quite conformist, however I accept that their names will be remembered long after the small bureaucratic lives around them are forgotten.
Not sure how much that matters, explode the Death Star anyway.
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May 9, 2017Great book reccomend
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews