The Man Without a Country [Hardcover]

Edward Everett Hale (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: H. M. Caldwell (1987)
• ASIN: B000V9726A
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Traitor or Patriot?, April 4, 2001

By 

F. Hamilton "[e-mail]" (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Man Without A Country (Paperback)

"The Man Without a Country," written by Edward Everett Hale in 1863, tells the story of Philip Nolan, a young lieutenant in the United States Navy, who, at his court martial for treason, damned the United States and cavalierly wished that he might never hear her name again. Nolan's sentence was to have his wish fulfilled. For fifty-five years he was kept at sea, being repeatedly transferred from ships that approached land to those that were headed out to sea. Although Nolan was not treated like a prisoner, a unique protocol was developed that kept him from hearing or seeing any news from home.

Because of obscure references (especially early in the story) and some archaic wording, reading the story aloud is recommended. This provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that much can be gleaned from a story even when references are not completely understood. Pausing periodically to summarize the main points can help to keep students involved until you get to Hale's anecdotes that will truly captivate them.

In addition to delineating the consequences of an impetuous act, "The Man Without a Country" provides a thought-provoking portrait of a patriot. In essays or debates students might consider Was Nolan's sentence fair? Should he have been pardoned?

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming & Heartbreaking!, July 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Man Without A Country (Paperback)

I can't believe the reader from Allentown didn't care for this book. I first read this story in high school and remember how choked up I got over Phillip's absolute and total love for a country he hasn't been able to see or hear about for over half his life due to his impassioned, yet stupid youthful declaration that he "never wanted to hear his country's name again!".

I hope other would-be readers listen to the other reviews and try this book. You WILL NOT be disappointed. You will be fighting back tears by the end of this story. As I said, I read this book while in my teens and still enjoy re-reading it. You will cherish what you have after you finish.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A multi-level classic: Unlooked for consequences of anger, June 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Man Without a Country (Hardcover)

When Philip Nolan spewed out the words, "Damn the United States! May I never hear her name again!", the (c 1812) tribunal decided that that indeed would be his punishment for his involvement with Aaron Burr: Never to see or hear of his birth land again. The poignancy of this consequence through his long years of exile/imprisonment on U.S. ships crescendoes to the denoument, when the evidence of Nolan's encounter with what he had lost is described. Beautifully written. No flag-waving overt patriotism here. Subtle. Inferential. Puts one in touch with what we take so much for granted in the U.S. of A.!