Peter Maniate
New member
The Wreck of the Ethie
by Hilary Hyland
Peachtree Publishers
1999
This review originally appeared in the Gentle Giant News (newsletter of the South Eastern Ontario Region of the Newfoundland Dog Club of Canada):
On December 16th, 1919, the S.S. Ethie was wrecked in hurricane off the western coast of Newfoundland at Martin Point near Bonne Bay. A courageous Newf saved the lives of the 92 people on board this steam ship. The local newspaper, the Western Star, gave only one sentence in their story of the wreck about the role of the heroic Newfoundland dog:
"A line was fired from the ship, but caught up amongst the boulders, so the people of Martin Point sent out one of their dogs, a very sagacious animal, to bring it ashore."
Maybe the folks in Newfoundland in the early 20th century were satisfied with such curt reporting of incredible heroism against the full ferocity of nature; perhaps they were so accustomed to living with such amazing animals that they took selfless devotion, absolute bravery and magnificent power for granted. However, for those of us who never stop to amaze at the wonderfulness of the Newfoundland dog, we need more.
More is what Hilary Hyland has given us in her fictionalized account of this fantastic feat of bravery and strength. She has filled in the details that we want, nay, need to know. The book reflects the meticulous research that she carried out. We are introduced to the rugged life in the Newfoundland of the day both on land and sea. We feel the mighty fury of nature and the good hearted bravery of the people.
Moreover we get to meet and know the incredible Newf in his everyday life and at his courageous best. Our appetite for knowing it all about that incredible day is sated. In other words, Hilary Hyland has taken the bare bones of the historical accounts and put back on the flesh in order to bring the story alive for us.
In addition to a fabulous story you also get the full text of a poem about the dog (four pages), several pages of author's notes with pictures, a photocopy of the newspaper account, a glossary of nautical terms and maps of the area.
RECOMMENDATION: Great reading for children eight to 12 and a must read for Newfoundland dog lovers of all ages. Best read with a Newfoundland dog at your side, because like the characters at the end of the book, you'll want to hug a Newf.
by Hilary Hyland
Peachtree Publishers
1999
This review originally appeared in the Gentle Giant News (newsletter of the South Eastern Ontario Region of the Newfoundland Dog Club of Canada):
On December 16th, 1919, the S.S. Ethie was wrecked in hurricane off the western coast of Newfoundland at Martin Point near Bonne Bay. A courageous Newf saved the lives of the 92 people on board this steam ship. The local newspaper, the Western Star, gave only one sentence in their story of the wreck about the role of the heroic Newfoundland dog:
"A line was fired from the ship, but caught up amongst the boulders, so the people of Martin Point sent out one of their dogs, a very sagacious animal, to bring it ashore."
Maybe the folks in Newfoundland in the early 20th century were satisfied with such curt reporting of incredible heroism against the full ferocity of nature; perhaps they were so accustomed to living with such amazing animals that they took selfless devotion, absolute bravery and magnificent power for granted. However, for those of us who never stop to amaze at the wonderfulness of the Newfoundland dog, we need more.
More is what Hilary Hyland has given us in her fictionalized account of this fantastic feat of bravery and strength. She has filled in the details that we want, nay, need to know. The book reflects the meticulous research that she carried out. We are introduced to the rugged life in the Newfoundland of the day both on land and sea. We feel the mighty fury of nature and the good hearted bravery of the people.
Moreover we get to meet and know the incredible Newf in his everyday life and at his courageous best. Our appetite for knowing it all about that incredible day is sated. In other words, Hilary Hyland has taken the bare bones of the historical accounts and put back on the flesh in order to bring the story alive for us.
In addition to a fabulous story you also get the full text of a poem about the dog (four pages), several pages of author's notes with pictures, a photocopy of the newspaper account, a glossary of nautical terms and maps of the area.
RECOMMENDATION: Great reading for children eight to 12 and a must read for Newfoundland dog lovers of all ages. Best read with a Newfoundland dog at your side, because like the characters at the end of the book, you'll want to hug a Newf.
