THE HAWK AND THE HARE
Based on a true story
Author: Janet Love Morrison
It is 1944 and the young Canadians of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry have had enough of drills and night marches and waiting. Private Ewen Morrison is 21 years old when he joins the regiment in Sussex and meets his new platoon, including Reggie Johnson, an Indigenous soldier from Ontario’s Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve. His new friend supplements the army’s training with some of his own, helping to prepare Ewen for scouting missions against the enemy. Landing on Juno Beach, the men confront the brutal reality of war as they advance across northern Europe with the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. Reggie’s bravery, skill and authority soon earn him a field promotion, but not necessarily the respect of all the men in his platoon.
Based on war diaries and regimental records, The Hawk and the Hare is inspired by the real-life experience of the author’s father. This is not the story of generals and officers, but of the men on the ground and the hardships they endured. Exploring themes of friendship, culture and valour, The Hawk and the Hare honours the young men who fought to liberate Europe in the final months of the Second World War.
- Fiction
- ISBN 978-1-7770101-2-6 (paperback)
- ISBN 978-1-7770101-3-3 (ebook)
- 5.5″ x 8.5″
- Publication date: May 2020
- Paperback: CA $22.95 / US $18.95
- Ebook: CA $4.95 / US $3.95
This emotionally gripping novel brings to life an account of the atrocities of war amongst a tightknit group of infantry soldiers. It explores the personal relationships between leaders and followers, Indigenous and non-indigenous soldiers, veterans and replacement soldiers, comrades and enemies, soldiers and civilians . . . Janet Love Morrison does a masterful job weaving the personal accounts into an action-packed storyline, making it a captivating read.
The tale slowly engrosses you, takes you over, and brings you into Ewen Morrison’s world. You feel the prejudices, the acceptance, the squabbling, the pride, the injuries, the death. You are there with 17 Platoon, “D” Company. You live the history from inside looking out,
The narrative tracks Ewen Morrison from England to Normandy, then up through Belgium and the Netherlands and finally into Germany itself. Morrison’s best friend is an Indigenous man and the treatment of First Nations Canadians who were serving their country overseas features large in this book. A good read.