Barometer Rising (Masterplots II: British and Commonwealth Fiction Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Hugh MacLennan
- First Published: 1941
- Type of Work: Social realism
- Time of Work: December 2, 1917, to December 10, 1917
- Setting: Halifax and Nova Scotia, Canada
- Principal Characters: Neil Macrae, Penelope (Penny) Wain, Colonel Geoffrey Wain, Angus Murray, Alex Mackenzie
- Genres: Long fiction, Social realism
- Subjects: Self-discovery, 1910’s, Nationalism, Death or dying, Canada or Canadians, World War I, Ships, Tragedy, Disasters, Fire, Explosions or explosives, Munitions
- Locales: Halifax, Canada
The Novel
The main subject of Hugh MacLennan’s novel is the return of Neil Macrae from France to Halifax in order to clear his name. His uncle, Colonel Geoffrey Wain, had ordered an ill-planned advance on the Germans; Wain tried to blame the resulting debacle on Neil, ordering his arrest and court-martial for cowardice. When a shell hit the dugout in which he was being held prisoner, Neil was reported missing, believed killed. It is revealed, however, that he was picked up, badly wounded and amnesiac, and sent to the hospital. His rescuers believed him to be a private in the...
[The entire page is 2137 words long]
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