Visits: On the Road to Things Past

Lynne Hughes teaches communication arts at the University of Calgary.

Visits: On the Road to Things Past presents stories of a Canadian man
who recounts selected travels and experiences that help guide him to
maturity. The book, divided into 23 chapters, ranges far and wide: the
author finds himself in Canadian cities like Barkerville, B.C., Toronto,
and Halifax, and in Britain, Scotland, and China. McIntosh’s
adventures include working at summer jobs, joining and serving in the
air force, and going on assignment as a reporter after World War II.

Written in first person, Visits paints especially vivid pictures of the
geography and general atmosphere of various Canadian cities and towns.
The description of Dawson, for example, stands out as capturing the
natural beauty and rugged essence of the area. Servicemen’s antics are
affectionately detailed, and accounts of thwarted romances, hockey
games, and air force high jinks provide innocent humor. The darker side
of war also emerges. Fear generated by the sounds of air raid sirens is
conveyed in “Short Circuit”; the complex and often hostile postwar
relationships among pows surprise and inform in “Unforgiveness.”
“A Call on Mr. Wells” comments on the impact of death on the
families of soldiers killed in action.

McIntosh’s world after World War II is filled with humor and pathos.
Stories of Grey Cup celebrations and train rides give insight into early
Canada, as do more poignant accounts of the struggles of Newfoundlanders
and coal miners. Anecdotes about well-known Canadians add interest:
René Lévesque and Robert Stanfield both make an appearance.

One difficulty with Visits is that while McIntosh details his early
life fairly extensively, he seems to skip hastily over discussion of his
marriage. Perhaps a chapter devoted to his courtship and wedding would
not leave the reader feeling unfamiliar with the narrator.

Otherwise, Visits: On the Road to Things Past makes for pleasant
reading, offering an often nostalgic, sometimes painful look at a life
that takes the author from innocence to experience.