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Harry Doing Good
‘Do-gooders,’ says Harry Eckington, ‘do better’. And no one does more good than Harry himself…
As he sets off for a holiday in Snowdonia with his oddly assorted group of young friends, rescued from the youth club, all seems set fair for a healthy, invigorating, uplifting week in the mountains, in spite of their individual handicaps.
There is Cheryl’s withered hand, for instance, marring her peaches and cream beauty; and the jagged red blotch that streaks across Ann’s throat; and there are Simon’s turns, though everyone optimistically believes he has been doing better lately.
Peter suffers from a frustrating home atmosphere and a set of false teeth, while Linda’s seemingly unshakeable Christian calm hides the traumatic memory of an assault when she was twelve years old.
As for Harry himself, he’s not quite as much of a saint as they all think…
But, as they leave for Snowdonia, they are united in their deep beliefs, their loyalty to each other, and their admiration for the selfless quality of Harry’s leadership — though this last soon comes under question as their holiday begins to go badly wrong.
Everything might have been fine if they had not been forestalled by a crew of sheep-stealing psychopaths, whose criminal plans are completely overset by the unexpected arrival of the friends on the same remote plateau.
The confrontation escalates rapidly, leading to a tragedy of violence, rape, and murder — and yet the horror does not end when Snowdonia is left behind.
Instead, the aftermath of the mountain tragedy takes a toll nearly as deadly on the survivors…
Harry Doing Good is a chilling literary thriller filled with tension and suspense that will keep you gripping on.
'Genuinely Fun' - Ken Gray, Irish Times
‘Mr Canaway is a delight’ - Sydney Morning Herald
‘Thoroughly engaging’ – Richard Foreman
W. H. Canaway was born in 1925 in Cheshire, England, and wrote eighteen novels in thirty years, combining adventure, natural history, and a love of the outdoors. His novel Sammy Going South was made into a film in 1963.
As he sets off for a holiday in Snowdonia with his oddly assorted group of young friends, rescued from the youth club, all seems set fair for a healthy, invigorating, uplifting week in the mountains, in spite of their individual handicaps.
There is Cheryl’s withered hand, for instance, marring her peaches and cream beauty; and the jagged red blotch that streaks across Ann’s throat; and there are Simon’s turns, though everyone optimistically believes he has been doing better lately.
Peter suffers from a frustrating home atmosphere and a set of false teeth, while Linda’s seemingly unshakeable Christian calm hides the traumatic memory of an assault when she was twelve years old.
As for Harry himself, he’s not quite as much of a saint as they all think…
But, as they leave for Snowdonia, they are united in their deep beliefs, their loyalty to each other, and their admiration for the selfless quality of Harry’s leadership — though this last soon comes under question as their holiday begins to go badly wrong.
Everything might have been fine if they had not been forestalled by a crew of sheep-stealing psychopaths, whose criminal plans are completely overset by the unexpected arrival of the friends on the same remote plateau.
The confrontation escalates rapidly, leading to a tragedy of violence, rape, and murder — and yet the horror does not end when Snowdonia is left behind.
Instead, the aftermath of the mountain tragedy takes a toll nearly as deadly on the survivors…
Harry Doing Good is a chilling literary thriller filled with tension and suspense that will keep you gripping on.
'Genuinely Fun' - Ken Gray, Irish Times
‘Mr Canaway is a delight’ - Sydney Morning Herald
‘Thoroughly engaging’ – Richard Foreman
W. H. Canaway was born in 1925 in Cheshire, England, and wrote eighteen novels in thirty years, combining adventure, natural history, and a love of the outdoors. His novel Sammy Going South was made into a film in 1963.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1973
About the author
W.H. Canaway
23 books6 followers(1925-1988)
William Hamilton Canaway, known as W.H. Canaway, also known as Bill Canaway, was the author of novels that combined adventure with natural history and a love of the outdoors.
William Hamilton Canaway, known as W.H. Canaway, also known as Bill Canaway, was the author of novels that combined adventure with natural history and a love of the outdoors.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 22, 2017
*Thank you to the Odyssey Press for sending me a review copy! My thoughts are my own and in no one affected by receiving an rc*
Sammy Going South by WH Canaway is one of my all-time favourite books, mostly brought on by nostalgia; it was a book that my father had talked about trying to find for years (he knew it under the title "A Boy Ten Feet Tall", and as such, he always found it difficult to find) and I had managed to find it for him in 2010, just less than a year before his unexpected death. After he passed, I picked it up myself for the first time, trying to build a deeper connection to him through a book he had loved and searched for for decades. I ended up loving the book myself, and have kept the copy I bought for him close by ever since.
As such, when I received the opportunity to be sent a review copy of the new digital release of another Canaway novel, I was excited to delve into another of his novels, and perhaps in some round about way create an even deeper connection with my father. However, this novel did not captivate me the same way that Sammy Going South did.
Getting into the actual review, I found this book very difficult to get into. The writing seemed too simple to me ("Ann was curled in her bag, thinking about Peter. She said, 'I'm thinking about Peter, and it's nice.' 'Go to sleep,' said Linda.") and the plot itself was lacking any forward drive; I was relieved every time I reached the end of a chapter, so that I could put the book down and do something else for a little while.
One major issue I had from the beginning with this book was the titular character, Harry. I found his relationship with the young people that were his closest friends to be more creepy than do-gooder; he was over twice their age, and here he was hanging out and admiring young women who weren't even old enough to drink. I realize, though, that this is more of a generational difference; me being 21, I have never been part of a generation or time period when something like this might seem innocent rather than skeevy, so I can understand that people older than me would not see this as much of an issue.
That being said, there is something I can admire very much about Harry's character, and that is his asexuality. It is not explicitly said that he is asexual, of course, this book having been released in the early 70s when such terminology was unheard of, but it is heavily implied. It is nice to see representation of the spectrum inside such an old book.
I do feel like I gave this book a fair chance. At one point, nearly halfway through, I stopped reading the book for a few weeks, and then picked it up to start over from the beginning, wondering if I needed a clearer mind to enjoy this book as I had Sammy Going South. But that was not the case; the second attempt at getting into the book was just as difficult.
Whilst this review might not necessarily be a good one, I can't completely say that I don't suggest people read it, especially if you're older than I am. I don't think this book is in anyway for people born after, say, 1985, but to everyone else, go for it! There are a few shining moments in this book that could make it worth it for you, hence why I ended up giving this 2 stars instead of 1. If you can make it past the first half of the book, I think you can find a way to enjoy it.
Sammy Going South by WH Canaway is one of my all-time favourite books, mostly brought on by nostalgia; it was a book that my father had talked about trying to find for years (he knew it under the title "A Boy Ten Feet Tall", and as such, he always found it difficult to find) and I had managed to find it for him in 2010, just less than a year before his unexpected death. After he passed, I picked it up myself for the first time, trying to build a deeper connection to him through a book he had loved and searched for for decades. I ended up loving the book myself, and have kept the copy I bought for him close by ever since.
As such, when I received the opportunity to be sent a review copy of the new digital release of another Canaway novel, I was excited to delve into another of his novels, and perhaps in some round about way create an even deeper connection with my father. However, this novel did not captivate me the same way that Sammy Going South did.
Getting into the actual review, I found this book very difficult to get into. The writing seemed too simple to me ("Ann was curled in her bag, thinking about Peter. She said, 'I'm thinking about Peter, and it's nice.' 'Go to sleep,' said Linda.") and the plot itself was lacking any forward drive; I was relieved every time I reached the end of a chapter, so that I could put the book down and do something else for a little while.
One major issue I had from the beginning with this book was the titular character, Harry. I found his relationship with the young people that were his closest friends to be more creepy than do-gooder; he was over twice their age, and here he was hanging out and admiring young women who weren't even old enough to drink. I realize, though, that this is more of a generational difference; me being 21, I have never been part of a generation or time period when something like this might seem innocent rather than skeevy, so I can understand that people older than me would not see this as much of an issue.
That being said, there is something I can admire very much about Harry's character, and that is his asexuality. It is not explicitly said that he is asexual, of course, this book having been released in the early 70s when such terminology was unheard of, but it is heavily implied. It is nice to see representation of the spectrum inside such an old book.
I do feel like I gave this book a fair chance. At one point, nearly halfway through, I stopped reading the book for a few weeks, and then picked it up to start over from the beginning, wondering if I needed a clearer mind to enjoy this book as I had Sammy Going South. But that was not the case; the second attempt at getting into the book was just as difficult.
Whilst this review might not necessarily be a good one, I can't completely say that I don't suggest people read it, especially if you're older than I am. I don't think this book is in anyway for people born after, say, 1985, but to everyone else, go for it! There are a few shining moments in this book that could make it worth it for you, hence why I ended up giving this 2 stars instead of 1. If you can make it past the first half of the book, I think you can find a way to enjoy it.
January 9, 2022
I feel a bit queasy...
The book starts innocently enough, with Harry as the self appointed leader of a 'youth group', youths with some small disabilities going camping, exploring and generally having ordinary fun. But a holiday looking for treasure in Wales changes the direction of everything, and a newcomer irrevocably alters the balance of power. Factor in a criminal gang sheep rustling and you have a recipe for disaster of the squeamiest sort.
The book starts innocently enough, with Harry as the self appointed leader of a 'youth group', youths with some small disabilities going camping, exploring and generally having ordinary fun. But a holiday looking for treasure in Wales changes the direction of everything, and a newcomer irrevocably alters the balance of power. Factor in a criminal gang sheep rustling and you have a recipe for disaster of the squeamiest sort.
December 20, 2017
This was an odd little tale. The style of writing reminded me of satire or tongue in cheek but it was also very straightforward so the whole book seemed a bit off to me but the story itself was interesting.
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November 26, 2019Endeavor Press
May 1, 2017
Great as a thriller. A well meaning 40 year old takes a group of youngsters to Snowdonia around 1972 or 1973. Meet an American hippy hitch hiker on the way. Naive to the point of stupid, they unwittingly fall in with a criminal gang. Without spoiling the story, Harry and the youngsters discover what we would now call their own 'tipping point'. The place where upholders of decent standards find themselves tumbling towards brutality and inner bleakness,
There is nothing supernatural going on, which makes the book more creepy, and the wilds of Snowdonia seem to generate a moral vacuum . Quite a cruel and scathing thriller as the characters find themselves twisted by their experiences, and returning home doesn't seem to cure them.
It's an unpleasant tale, but well crafted .
There is nothing supernatural going on, which makes the book more creepy, and the wilds of Snowdonia seem to generate a moral vacuum . Quite a cruel and scathing thriller as the characters find themselves twisted by their experiences, and returning home doesn't seem to cure them.
It's an unpleasant tale, but well crafted .
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews