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The Brother Keepers, a new historical novel by John E. (Ted) MacNintch |
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Note well that The Brother Keepers is a work of historical fiction, and is NOT a genealogy book. |
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John E. (Ted) MacNintch, a descendent of the John McIninch who emigrated to Canada in 1823, |
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has written a fascinating new book, The Brother Keepers, which is a historical novel based on the |
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family story of five brothers, growing up in pre-war Nova Scotia, and the World War I experiences |
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of three brothers who served in Europe as volunteers in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). |
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The brothers grow up with a strong pride in their Celtic heritage, in the Highland military tradition, |
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and the story in the book is told with the surname MacInnes [our M(ac)(c) A/I/N in (-ch)(-sh)-tch), |
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surnames come from the highland Clan MacInnes [MFHN article: www.mcaninch.net > Surname]. |
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The book is loosely-based on the families of the author’s great-grand-parents [Asa McNintch |
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(1834-1917) and Kathryn Meriah (Kelley) McNintch (1837-1916)], his grand-parents [Baptist |
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Rev. Abner Mesereau McNintch (1863-1942), and Janie Elizabeth (Bent) McNintch (1867-1942)], |
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and their four sons, Robie Edward, Guy P., Sable M. (the main character in the historical novel), |
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and Laurie Kelly M(ac)(c)Nintch. Three of these brothers, Robie Edward, Sable, and Laurie Kelly |
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(the author’s father) served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during World War I. |
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http://www.thebrotherkeepers.com is a new website dedicated to The Brother Keepers book, |
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with quite a bit of information, and some online excerpts (including some of the author’s notes). |
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The Brother Keepers, by John E. (Ted) MacNintch; hardcover, 779 pages, historical war fiction |
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(Canada, WWI); published 2007, Aquadoc Publication LLC, Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475; |
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(new 2007) ISBN-13: 978-0-9787505-0-3 (13-digit barcode); (old ISBN-10: 0-9787505-0-0). |
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Synopsis of The Brother Keepers, by the author, John E. (Ted) MacNintch |
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This work of literary historical fiction, based on the World War I experiences of five MacInnes |
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brothers, has its roots in idyllic pre-war Nova Scotia and sweeps the reader into the vortex of the |
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horrendous battles of human attrition in Belgium and France. The story culminates in fratricide |
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and its lingering aftermath. It will entertain you, move you emotionally and provide you with an |
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insightful history of World War I and the Highland military tradition as seen through the adventures |
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and experiences of these MacInnes brother keepers. |
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What begins as a glorious crusade against the invading Huns devolves into a colossal struggle, |
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not only for survival, but also for the souls of these three volunteers in the Canadian Expeditionary |
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Force (CEF). Brought up in the parsonage of a Baptist minister fondly referred to as “The Old Gent,” |
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sons Sable, Ian, and Fraser are taught to be “brother keepers.” They bond fiercely through a |
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multitude of reckless endeavors and escapades of tomfoolery and danger on both water and land, |
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not without humor, while growing up in rural Nova Scotia along with brothers Dugald and Murdoch. |
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Intertwined in this free-wheeling lifestyle is their grandfather Asa, who makes it his duty to instill |
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in the boys a pride in their Celtic heritage. Sable, the ringleader of the brotherhood, becomes a crack |
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shot early on, earning his rite of passage when he kills a buck and faces down a bear. |
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_________________________________________________________________________ |
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McAninch Family History NL v.XV n.3 / July 2007 / Frank McAninch, Editor / page 2007-19 |