Robert Frost was born in San Francisco in 1874, the son of a newspaper man, formerly from Massachusetts. Rob's first teacher was his mother, who taught him to read Bible stories and poems. He was greatly impressed with his father's newspaper work.

When Rob was ten years old, his father died, and his mother returned to Massachusetts with Rob and his younger sister. Here she taught in a district school which Rob and his sister attended. Rob worked in a shoe cobbler's shop and on a nearby farm to help support the family.

Grandfather Frost helped Rob attend high school in Lawrence, Massachusetts. While here, he wrote his first poem, "La Noche Triste." He studied enthusiastically and graduated as co-valedictorian of his class. Next with help from Grandfather Frost, he attended Dartmouth College for a short time.

During the next few years young Frost taught school and wrote poems, having only one, "My Butterfly," accepted for publication. Next he entered Harvard University and won honors but had to drop out because of ill health. Finally he settled on a small farm near Derry, New Hampshire.

On the farm, Frost continued to write poems but failed to get any published. Finally in 1912 he sold the farm and moved to England. His first volume, A Boy's Will, was published there and became immensely popular. This was followed by a second volume, North of Boston, which was equally successful.

In 1915 Frost returned to America and afterwards had many volumes of poetry published here. In time he came to be known unofficially as the "Poet Laureate" of America. He was acclaimed as a literary giant and universally respected for his simple but beautiful verses. He lectured in many colleges and universities on literary topics.

The climax of his career came in January, 1961, when he participated in the inauguration of John F. Kennedy. He composed a special poem but was unable to see well enough to read it. Finally he gave up and brilliantly recited his noted patriotic poem about America, "The Gift Outright."

This book has been written by Ellen Wilson, author of two other volumes in the Childhood of Famous Americans Series. Mrs. Wilson, who teaches courses in children's literature at Indiana University, has portrayed feelingly the life of Robert Frost and has given her book true literary flavor.

From the dust jacket