About the middle of the last century, Joel Chandler Harris, as a boy, often wandered through the countryside of central Georgia with his dog Brutus. During his excursions he observed the habits of rabbits, opossums, foxes, and other small animals. Later he included these small animals in his stories.

Eatonton, the small town where Joel lived, was surrounded by plantations. Joel often visited these plantations and listened to the Negroes tell folktales. He was fascinated by the flavor of these stories and the exuberance with which they were told. Always one story seemed to lead to another, each better than before.

Joel's mother, a skilled seamstress, had difficulty supporting her small son. She couldn't give him many material things, but she read to him and encouraged him to read and to write. Thus she helped him to develop an early fondness for literature.

There was no public school in Eatonton, but Joel's mother arranged for him to attend a private school. Later, he was assisted by Mr. Reed, a schoolmaster, who paid his tuition at an academy. He liked both these schools.

From the dust jacket