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The Shepherd of the Hills

By
Real Estate Agent with Branson House Realty 2003032011

I've lived here my whole life and never read our most famous novel of the area- The Shepherd of the Hills. I don't know why really- I probably took it for granted along with the tourist attraction and the outdoor play in the summertime.

My father in-law who lives up in Clinton Mo gave me an original hard bound copy with a Copyright of 1907, when I believe Harold Bell Wright's first copy came out. (Correct me if I'm wrong) With all the familiar places the characters lived-Fall Creek, Compton Ridge, Dewy Bald in the first part of the story I felt at home right away knowing every hilltop and imagining what it must have been like traveling by foot or on horseback down endless winding trails.

It's funny the dialog in the book reminds me a lot of the old hillbilly way of talkin' I remember as a little girl from my Grandma and Great Uncles. One of the story lines is about the survival of Sammy Lane and how she felt trapped by the hills not knowing life beyond them. From a Shepherd named Dad Howitt she gets an education to move away and start a new life with her fiancee in the city. I think she realizes life here is not so bad after all, and discovers what she truly wants in life.

I just finished chapter 23 when she breaks it off with Ollie, half way finished. I've always heard the characters were based on real life people, after reading it I can see that they must have been. Anyway I'm enjoying it more than I thought~I encourage anyone visiting the area to pick up a copy while you're on vacation! 

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