Alistair MacLeod traces the red and black haired Scottish Macdonald family’s roots back to 1779, in No Great Mischief. Alexander MacDonald is the narrator and pieces together stories and legends passed down about his great great great grandfather Calum Ruadh. Calum sold everything in Scotland, lost two wives and risked it all to immigrate to Nova Scotia, Canada with his twelve children.
The Calum Ruadh clan continued in Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, determined to maintain their Scottish culture by speaking Gaelic, passing down stories and playing their traditional music. Most of the town was related to Calum Ruadh and it wasn’t unusual for people to marry their own cousins.
Scottish Calum Ruadh Dogs
Calum’s dog refused to stay behind on Scottish shore and had more Calum Ruadh dogs in Canada, who “tried too hard and cared too much”. “Little dog, you have been with us all these years and we will not forsake you now. You will come with us”, Calum finally said, when it was clear the swimming dog wasn’t giving up.
One of the dog's descendants died trying to defend a lighthouse long after his light keeper master had drowned. The description of the dog’s personality was really an extension of the Macdonald family’s personality because they were also fiercely loyal, determined, stubborn, passionate and protective of each other.
Alexander’s Parents Die in Cape Breton
The unexpected drowning death of his parents was traumatic for Alexander, but his grandparents took him and his three year old twin sister in. His three remaining brothers had to fend for themselves, so they quit school and worked. The boys turned out quite different because they didn’t have many manners, rules or opportunities.
Alexander’s Brother Calum
Alexander’s three brothers eventually left Nova Scotia to work in the mines in Ontario. He remained close to them and worked with them between attending medical school. It was a rough job and the French Canadians and Nova Scotians would often feud with each other.
Once, it went too far and his feisty brother Calum ended up in prison because of it. This was one of the saddest parts of No Great Mischief (1999, McClelland & Stewart) because he was originally so strong and full of life. By the time he got out of prison, he barely had the energy to stand, and his hands shook when he ran out of alcohol.
After Calum was released, he lived in a dirty small Toronto flat with a shared bathroom down the hall. In contrast, Alexander was an orthodontist with a comfortable huge home, a wife and two children. I think Alexander felt guilty about this because he knew he had a better start with his grandparents. It does make you wonder how much different people would be if they had a different environment growing up.
This beautiful and poetic novel by Alistair MacLeod begins and ends with the loyal but contrasting brothers together. Alexander stood by his downtrodden brother’s side because as he said in No Great Mischief “all of us are better when we’re loved”. Most of Alexander’s family had to leave Cape Breton for financial reasons (just as they originally did in Scotland), but it was clear that they bonded deeply and were proud of their Highland Scottish/Cape Breton roots.
Sandra Williams - Sandra's a book addict and writer from Ontario, Canada. Her interests include cooking, health and personal development, so many of her ...
