People with crippling infirmities have to overcome many obstacles. First, there is the personal adjustment they must make to live in a world that does not befriend them.
Second, they sometimes must endure odd looks and rejection from "normal people."
Finally, they must try to overcome their disabilities to lead a productive life. While some handicapped people, like Helen Keller, literally change the way the world views people with differences, others struggle under the weight of their crosses.
Paul Gallico has written a beautifully-told story of one man coping with and transforming his disabilities. The name of this sensitive and brave account is "Snow Goose."
In 1930, Phillip Rhayader moved to the abandoned marshes of southern England.
A sensitive artist, Phillip also had a deformed back and hand. After years of trying to fit in, he simply leaves society and settles in a lonely lighthouse near the beach. There he paints magnificent seascapes, and befriends countless birds, ducks and geese. Every week or so, he journeys into town and gets a few supplies before returning to his lonely exile.
Stories begin to abound about his ability to heal birds, and a young girl named Fritha finds a wounded Canadian goose in the marsh. As the bird is badly injured, the girl decides to risk visiting the artist to see if the stories of his healing skills are accurate.
As the girl brings the wounded goose to the lighthouse, she meets a sensitive man with a deeply caring nature. He attends to the injured goose and names it "the Lost Princess."
Fritha is a very lonely child and comes out and visits Mr. Rhayader and the Lost Princess frequently. As the bird gets better, Fritha finds herself drawn into a caring friendship with the crippled man.
But the goose is well by spring and flies north with the other geese. Fritha is somewhat heartbroken at the Lost Princess’s departure, but Phillip comforts her with the thought that geese also migrate south in the winter.
Sure enough, some months later, the Lost Princess lands at the lighthouse to the delight of the artist and the girl. Knowing a good thing, the goose never migrates again, and lives permanently with Rhayader.
As the years pass, the friendship of Phillip and Firtha grows. He teaches her to sail, and they have many wonderful days on the ocean.
But the spring of 1940 changes everything. The Nazis have surrounded and pinned down a British and French army at Dunkirk. From the beach they can hear the shelling across the English Channel. The British government puts out an urgent plea for anyone with a small boat to sail to France and ferry the trapped soldiers over the shallow port waters to the waiting British fleet.
Phillip quickly readies his small sailboat as Fritha anxiously waits on the beach. As he leaves, Fritha finally realizes that she loves Phillip. As the cannon fire increases, Phillip arrives at Dunkirk with the Lost Princess flying over his boat.
What happens at Dunkirk? Does Phillip save the lives of French and British soldiers? What are the odd tales the soldiers are telling that their lives will be spared if that strange goose flies over them? Who is this unusual man that pulls so many of them out of the sea? How many little boats are machine gunned during the miracle rescue of more than 300,000 soldiers at Dunkirk? What happens to Phillip and what does Firtha learn about the true value of people?
To find out, read this exceptional story of courage and dedication by Paul Gallico.
This is a beautiful and moving account of people overcoming barriers in life and finding their human dignity. It is a moving story with poignant illustrations.
The book is not meant for light reading, but tells a powerful story of compassion and bravery. The story is just as meaningful today as when it was first published 70 years ago. I hope you get a chance to read this outstanding book.
