HERE at last is the long-awaited successor to Ralph Moody's previous best sellers, Little Britches and Man of the Family, which established him as one of America's most beloved storytellers. Now Mr. Moody continues his account of his boyhood in a book just as warm and compelling, just as true-to-life and satisfying as his first two—with perhaps a newer note of maturity and understanding.

When young Ralph Moody, at fourteen, went to stay on his Grandfather's farm in Maine, he was ablaze with eagerness to bring the old place back to life, and full of ideas on how to do it. He soon encountered situations and personalities, though, that he hadn't figured on. There was Millie, the hired girl, for instance. She was temperamental and difficult, and it took a while before Ralph could appreciate her loyalty. And there was Grandfather himself. His impatience and stubbornness hurt and puzzled Ralph.

It was wise, humorous Uncle Levi, Grandfather's roving brother, who gave Ralph the key that enabled him to see the kindly and generous man under Grandfather's surface roughness, to understand his rockbound pride. As a result, Ralph was eventually the one who helped Grandfather win the lonely private "war" he had been waging, so that a man as well as a farm was reclaimed!

And when pretty, neighborly Annie Littlehale appeared on the scene, and Ralph, although inexperienced at courting, realized she was somebody very special, it was Uncle Levi again who supplied the lad with some good advice about women!

All these fine people come alive vividly as they step out of Ralph Moody's memories and into the pages of his new book. In every way destined to take its place beside Little Britches and Man of the Family, The Fields of Home is a book for everyone who has a tender spot in his heart for boys, for the land, for the triumph of character and muscle over stubborn obstacles. With humor and perception, Mr. Moody has once again re-created the days of his youth and woven them into a poignant and memorable reading experience.

From the dust jacket