Ian Macpherson (2) (1905–1944)

Wild Harbour by Ian Macpherson was originally published in 1936 as the world is gearing up for war and the future is bleak. This book tells the story of a married couple, Hugh and Terry, who decide to opt out of civilized life and flee the brutality of war and seek a new life in the wilderness.

Part political statement, part survival manual, Wild Harbour is also a love story and the commitment between these two people gives the book it’s emotional impact. The setting is the wild and show more beautiful Scottish Highlands which unfortunately still isn’t far enough away to allow these pacifists to avoid what is happening. As the story unfolds through diary entries, we can sense the total collapse of society is on the horizon.

I found this book to be short, simple and devastating. The author’s vision of a futuristic war of bombs, poison gas and biological weapons is dark, but considering the path that mankind has taken quite accurate. Wild Harbour makes a powerful and haunting statement. show less

Three stars and yet, I'm glad I read it. Not the best reading I've experienced, but very interesting information. Hugh and Terry are married and live in pre WWII Scotland. As they see others joining up they have to decide: will they support the war, will they kill, can they support the war without killing? The questions they must face are alone worth the read. Can they survive being ostracized for their beliefs? Can they survive killing others? Can they survive, period? So the basic question show more seems to be what will be more difficult, killing or not killing? How will they fair if they live against their own beliefs? Heck what ARE their beliefs? They are going to learn a LOT about themselves because of course, it is a lot more complicated than that.This fictitious account describes their life literally in the wilds, scrounging for food and shelter and making a life for themselves. Will they stick with their initial decision? This is a multi-faceted story. show less

This is an interesting book written in 1936. The action is set inn 1944 and revolves around one couple's reaction to an impending war. MacPherson predicts this timing pretty accurately. This couple, Terry and Hugh, find a cave in the Scottish wilderness and decide to leave their home to camp out here while the war happens. They feel a sense of deserting their fellow man, but feel more strongly that they don't want to participate again in a world war after experiencing WWI. They spend a few show more months learning to survive in the wilderness but then find themselves in the middle of the war anyway and death and violence encroaches on their attempt at isolation.

I found this book conceptually interesting, but highly annoying to read. The format is as a diary written by Hugh. The dialogue is atrocious and hyperbolic. Not really for me, but I was interested to know the book exists and at least it was short. show less

Given that I like a good outdoorsy survival story, I thought for sure that I would like Ian MacPherson's "Wild Harbour," but it really didn't appeal to me. It's interesting from a historical perspective -- as it was written in 1936 and predicted a major world war was coming... the survival story itself wasn't all that enjoyable.

The novel follows Terry and Hugh, a couple who decide to head to the hills and live in a cave instead of allowing Hugh to be drafted to fight in the war.

The big show more problem with this book definitely lies with the characters who were melodramatic and bordering on hysterical... it was hard to believe they would have any chance of surviving a few days in the woods. I rolled my eyes at every "Oh, Terry!" In life, I know a few people who could survive in a cave (and a few I'd like to send to one...) and none are anything like these flimsy characters. show less