Background
Harold Bell Wright's autobiography, at least those parts
from the first thirty years of his life that he thought it
important to tell. Provides a fascinating story of Wright's amazing
journey to adulthood after the death of his mother. Abandoned by
his alcoholic father, Wright was taken in by relatives, before living in
a series of homes where he worked for board and room. By his early
teen years Wright was living under bridges and sleeping in
haystacks. This book provides valuable insight into several of
Wright's stories, especially the early ones.
Collecting
This
title
is
so
very
rare
that
it
is,
without
a
doubt,
the
"Holy
Grail"
for
all
serious
Wright
collectors,
the
book
we
dream
about
at
night. Most
collectors
will
never
see
a first edition, and if they are lucky enough to buy
one,
often
keep
it
in
a
bank's
safe
deposit
box. All first editions are published by Harper &
Brothers, who printed only that one edition. Collectors
have
no trouble identifying first editions because all copies of To My
Sons are first editions, except the modern reprint by Yestermorrow. Buccaneer once announced a reprint, but never produced it, apparently because they did not get enough
advance orders. The Catalog of Books in Print, 1938-1942,
mentions a Canadian first edition by Musson, but I have never seen or
heard of a copy and do not know if such an edition was ever printed. The
1990s reprints by Yestermorrow,
as
well
as
first
editions,
are usually available from Barbara
Berry's Bookshop. When
you
get
to
this
site,
select
"All
Book
Stores"
to
compare
prices
of
all
copies
currently
on
the
market.
Rumors have persisted for years that this book is so
rare because Harold Bell Wright's sons (as in To My Sons) objected to the material
being shared
openly in the book, and traveled the country for years buying up every
copy they could find. "This is nonsense," Wright's youngest son, Norman,
frequently responded before his death in July, 2001. "I can't understand how such a
silly rumor ever got started." There
is nothing in the book that would embarrass the sons, and their busy
schedules in the movie industry certainly
didn't leave time to invest in such a silly venture. In any case, the
book is extremely rare today, the rarest by far of any of Harold Bell Wright's
books. Before eBay, every
few
years
I heard of one turning up in a store for
a few dollars, but most copies are bought from other collectors or from
knowledgeable dealers like Barbara Berry's Bookshop. One
"good" copy sold
on eBay for $1200, and another with an
original
dust jacket sold there for $2100. These prices are
less
than
half what you would pay
a
knowledgeable
dealer who
specializes in Wright's books. I once sold a really bad, smelly,
rotten-looking, ex-library copy to a dealer for resale. The dealer
paid me $850. I don't know how much he sold it for. The
bottom line is this title is VERY hard to find. But
certainly
prices
have
declined
as
eBay
has
caused
the
supply
to
nearly
catch
up
with
the
demand.
Notes for Owners of "Books
and Collectibles"
[My
guidebook lists 4 editions and varieties, including the American
first edition, the Canadian first edition (Musson), probably never
printed, and the Yestermorrow
reprint. The fourth edition by Buccaneer was never printed.
Review of Book
by Dr. Joyce Kinkead Copyright
1979 by Joyce Kinkead. Used by
Permission
Wright's autobiography, To My Sons (1934), is the final
book which rests primarily on the theme of development of virtuous
character. In covering the
first thirty years of his life, Wright presents the lessons which life
has taught him and which have influenced his moral and spiritual
development. He insists that an individual must work to make his life
significant, which he has done in rising from a poverty stricken
background to become a successful writer. In the autobiography, he often preaches to his sons on how to
develop good character. As
a result, the book is very personal.
In all of these books, Wright focuses on the development of
virtuous character. His
message is subtle in some of the novels such as The Shepherd of the
Hills but in Their Yesterdays, Wright is too blunt.
When he mixes theme with a good story, the result is an
interesting novel which also carries his message to his audience. Their Yesterdays fails because he deletes the story.
To Wright virtuous character is a force on which this country
must depend for its own welfare. The desirable American is, for Wright, well developed
morally, physically, spiritually, and intellectually.
Nature is influential on the development of character, and so the
country provides an atmosphere conducive to a person's growth.
In the earlier novels, the Ozarks provided that quality.
Later, he turned to the West as Eden for the American people.
Copyright 1979 by Joyce
Kinkead. Used by Permission
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