The Old Man and the Boy

The Old Man and the Boy #1

by Robert Ruark, Walter Dower (Illustrator)

This classic captures the endearing relationship between a man and his grandson as they fish and hunt the lakes and woods of North Carolina. All the while the Old Man acts as teacher and guide, passing on his wisdom and life experiences to the boy, who listens in rapt fascination.

Genres: Fiction, Outdoors, Classics, Nature, Audiobook, Adventure, Humor

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Robert Ruark was an author and syndicated columnist.

Born Robert Chester Ruark, Jr., to Charlotte A. Ruark and Robert C. Ruark, a bookkeeper for a wholesale grocery, young Ruark attended local schools and graduated from New Hanover High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. He graduated from high school at age 12 and entered the University of North Carolina at age 15. The Ruark family was deeply affected by the Depression, but despite his families' financial travails, he earned a journalism degree from the University of North 'Carolina at Chapel Hill.

During World War II Ruark was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy. Ruark served ten months as a gunnery officer on Atlantic and Mediterranean convoys.After the war Ruark joined the Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance. As the New York Times said, Ruark was "sometimes glad, sometimes sad, and often mad--but almost always provocative." Some of his columns were eventually collected into two books, I Didn't Know It Was Loaded (1948) and One for the Road (1949).As he grew in notoriety, Ruark began to write fiction; first for literary magazines, and then his first novel, Grenadine Etching in 1947.

After he began to gain success as a writer, Ruark decided that it was time to fulfill a lifelong dream to go on safari to Africa. Ruark took an entire year off and began a love affair with Africa.As a result of his first safari, Ruark wrote Horn of the Hunter, in which he detailed his hunt.

In 1953, Ruark began writing a column for Field & Stream magazine entitled ''The Old Man and the Boy''. Considered largely autobiographical (although technically fiction), this heartwarming series ran until late 1961.

Ruark's first bestselling novel was published in 1955. It was entitled Something of Value and was about the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya.

Sometimes belittled as “the poor man’s Hemingway,” Ruark has nevertheless retained a loyal following among fans of nature writing. Bland Simpson wrote that he produced “some of the best ‘portraiture in words’ of hunting, fishing and life in the field that we have.”

Ruark died in London on July 1, 1965 most likely as a result of alcoholism.
Robert Ruark is buried in Palamos, Spain.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_R...

Reviews

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've mentioned before that I'm a huge fan of Robert Ruark's writing, at least his "outdoor writing". For many years Mr. Ruark wrote a column in Field and Stream Magazine...The Old Man and the Boy, Mr. Ruark himself being the boy. This is a collection these.

I suppose I love this for the same reason(s) that I love some other books, movies etc. It reflects an idyllic and idealized situation that I find myself very envious of. I grew up in the country and wandered the fields and the creeks. My dad and granddad taught me to shoot, but we were never close, not like it's pictured here. Were Ruark and his grandfather really as close as we see here? Did "the old man" share the wisdom of the years that we see here? or is it idealized?

I don't know. I assume that it has to be largely true because of the stories related. But whether it's an every word true blow by blow account or if it's embroidered it's still wonderful and brings tears to my eyes.

It may be that the book is a bit dated and may appeal to older readers more, I don't really know. I do know that if you didn't grow up in a time or place where you had the freedom to hunt, fish and just be free you can get a taste here. Reading this could be a nostalgic experience and bring back memory or it may be simply a taste of what you missed, but whichever it's something that ought not be missed.

And it's something that ought not be forgotten.

This one, the volume I read is a library book...Five Stars and I plan to buy the book.

[Dan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me this book is a classic and a must read. It's one of a few books that I routinely give away, not as a gift but just because "You haven't read it?! Here, take this home."

Robert Ruark story of growing up in the Southport area of NC puts him in my neck of the woods. His stories of growing up, wisdom shared, and often times earned the hard way, are what anyone, especially any boy should be blessed with growing up. These aren't stories on hunting and fishing, these are stories on what hunting and fishing, and living amongst the "salt of the earth" people will do to shape you into a man.

As an example, as a father of two, I am often troubled on how to lead by example, especially when my example might not be the one I'd pick. Take the occasional four letter word that escapes my mouth (insert smashed thumb and a hammer spinning into the cosmos). How do I discipline my child for doing what he/she probably learned from me. It's handled perfectly in this book. After an outburst by the boy, "Dammit, it's my gun. It ain't your gun." because the old man took his new gun away from him, the old man says "You ain't old enough to cuss yet. Cussing is a prerogative for adults. You got to earn the right to cuss, like you got to earn the right to do most things. Cussing is for emphasis. When every other word is a swear word it just gets to be dull and don't mean anything anymore." The intent is, ok, there is going to be cussing, but it has a time and a place and until you learn when that is and when that isn't, you aren't telling everybody how grown up you are by cussing (what it feels like at 13), you're telling them how juvenile or how ignorant you are so don't embarrass yourself. This is opposed to what I'd call the mom's view of cussing. "I'll wash your mouth out with soap!" Making it bad just makes the kid want to do it more. Making it a responsibility, from an adult who is respected and practices what he preaches is something that sticks with a kid. I know it did with me when I was growing up.

This book isn't for everyone, but I haven't met many people I couldn't recommend it to so I'm recommending it to you.

[Sunnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something so reminiscent of our past that makes listening to, or seeing it “writ” on a page, the words of older folks almost a magical thing. We see antiques in certain stores, read bygone signs in magazines, but there is nothing like it when the words emanate from their own mouths. We see glimpses of how they lived, walking almost everywhere, baking in ovens attached to wood burning stoves, scrubbing, fishing, hunting, cleaning, and cooking so different from our own existence with microwave ovens and elevators and two cars in every garage. Pick up a copy of “The Old Man and the Boy,” by Robert Roark, and take a trip down memory lane to our early days. You won’t be disappointed! ❤️

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is a book for men about being a man, I think in today's world it is women who ought to be reading it. Ruark recounts the profound affect his grandfather had in raising him to be a real man. The old man used man's natural affinity to the outdoors, hunting and fishing, to teach the boy a much broader, deeper wisdom about respect for life and how to live honorably... as a real man.
It was an eye opener for me as to how much our modern feminist culture has destroyed real manliness. As it turns out, men really are different creatures, and not really built for androgyny... as least not very often. Our current culture of misandry and its feminization of men seems a bit unfair. We do not have to feminize men to make them decent human beings.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of tales, hopefully true, which were originally published in a sporting magazine. The writer (the titular boy) lovingly relates the wisdom passed on to him by his enate grandfather (the Old Man). It's refreshing to read something written by someone who claims to have had the perfect childhood, in spite of the fact that he grew up during the depression. The author's love for his grandfather shines through on every page; the book is consequently sentimental and soppy, and I loved every word of it.

[T. J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father read me this book when I was a child and I have probably read it four or five times my self. It has an endearing quality that very few other books have. It is a book filled with love; it is a series of stories, and anecdotes written by a grandson about his grandfather. It demonstrates affection in a way that is so masculine, whilst being full of devotion. The Old Man and the Boy is a book that I would recommend to almost anyone...

[Robert Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

A folksy, rose colored retelling of Ruark's childhood in the Carolinas. Each little section is broken out with some new experience or lesson being taught to the boy by his grandfather, hunting doves or learning to throw a cast net. Lessons of avoiding women while they are cleaning, basic conservation and disliking yankee city folk that come for your rural hunting are interspersed.

After reading that three line synopsis the real questions is why didn't I enjoy it more. Possibly the tales seem too fictional and romanticized to come across as much other than fond reminiscing. There is no bite, no grr, no moment of fear and uncertainty. Doting ramblings about a bygone era and man.

[Ben Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books stands alone in my memory as the book of my childhood. Strongly recommend to young men.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were days, now long gone and never to come again, when a boy grew up in a world full of adventure. A world in which a mentor would guide him, show him, teach, and where he could come and go, where he learned all about life, character, integrity. This is true story of that time. As I read the last few pages, it was sad to know that time, some of which I got to taste and experience myself, will never ever be again. We have a term for it today; free range children. It is an experience that only a very few in the country villages, where everyone still knows each other, where a child can meander endlessly and have no fear of being harmed. I lived and grew up in the vintages of that time, only to see them disappear, probably forever.

This is a story of young boy, who learns about life from his grandfather. His grandfather is a simple man, a many who respects others and is neither above or below anyone. A man who understands the fruits of the land, and shows a young boy how to hunt, fish, and understand the bounty of the land. The story takes place during the great depression, when everyone was feeling the pangs of the depression, work was hard, and money was scarce.

In a lot of ways, this book has some of Tom Sawyer, Captains Courageous, Lonesome Dove, and other great classics all woven in together, but based upon there real life of the author's reflections of growing up. A man lived by his word, and if your word was nothing, then so were you. You looked after and cared for your neighbor. You saw to those who had less than you without ever having a thought of looking down on them, or of doing a good deed. It was simply what you did for one another.

Then the book full of just common sense wisdom and sage advice. All told through the eyes of a seasoned mentor who has done that and been there. Who wants this boy to grow right, and to be respected and to respect others. Who sage advice, today would be frowned upon by the politically correct, but the sound, tired, and well seasoned advice that made a boy into a man.

I would recommend this book to everyone. You will not be disappointed reading about a time, not so long ago, in which a young boy could grow up to truly become a man.

[Jaydn Asay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written story about a boy growing into a man, with the guidance of ‘the old man’. I loved the writing style, the stories throughout kept me totally engaged and entertained. I loved getting a view into a world and era that just doesn’t exist anymore. The setting of the story was in the early to mid 1900s where being a ‘man’ and traditional masculinity was a given and not controversial. I feel like a lot of the lessons taught by the old man, still hold a lot of value today and I enjoyed that perspective. Definitely felt like I was taking a step back in time.While I understand a lot of the views in the book relating to masculinity, femininity, and gender roles in general would be viewed as largely problematic in todays world, I definitely feel there is value to be gained in a lot of the old man’s lessons. I really enjoyed the read. If nothing else, this is worth the time just for the beautiful writing and observations of the beauty that can be found in the natural world.

[Claire Casso · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book seems to be nothing more than a sentimentalized Boy Scouts' manual filled with Hallmark quotations. Skip it.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This book makes me nostalgic for memories I don’t and can never have. While both of my grandfathers were alive until I was a young adult. We were separated by a continent, I on west side, they on the east side, with just a few hurried vacation visits.

This is a smooth solid read, well written and fun to read, an easy recommendation.

[Mason Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend. Great for the outdoorsman who loves his pap. Heart wrencher.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books remembered from childhood. It was before I knew that Robert Ruark was one of those 1950s era depressed, macho-man drunks in the style of Hemingway. But he is a better writer than Hemingway because he actually tells a story you want to read and the characters are not as dull and dreary as Hemingway's.

It was a book to escape into for an 11 year old boy.

This book might not have withstood time if I went back and read it again, but I suspect that it would. Unlike the narcissistic drivel that passes for memoirs today, this one is a delight to read and you actually like the people and the stories. They are written for the reader.

I wonder if this one is in ebook? Time to go back and look at it again.

[Jason Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

By today's standards this book is incredibly sexist so if that will offend you be fore warned. That said it is full of many valuable life lessons foremost for me was the importance of a grandpa or father spending time with a boy. The old man teaches the boy all of life's most important lessons all while teaching him to hunt. They hunt and fish everything you can imagine including quail, doves, pheasant, rabbits, deer, crabs, raccoon, turkey, ducks, geese, turtles, rails and more and there is a story (or four or five) for each.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The home spun philosophy delivered while learning to hunt and fish is priceless and ageless. The relationship between grandfather and grandson is pure southern and worth a read. Don't get discouraged in the middle when it seems there are one too many hunting or fishing trips. The last 12 or so chapters branches. I live in Southport, the town where this book is based; it's a legendary tribute to the way things use to be.

[2patnt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my absolutely favorite book. I first read it when I was about 13 and have read it every couple of years since. It is extremely well written and will engage you from the first word to the last. It is a reflection on a simple but rewarding childhood that most of us can envy. Ruark led a tragic life as an adult but this account of his childhood is wonderful. I have searched out every other Ruark book and count him as one of my favorite authors. Not suitable for PETA members.

[Sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The nostalgia of this book ebbs from every page. Ruark's memoir transports readers back to his childhood in North Carolina. The Old Man in his life imparts various pieces of knowledge and experience that shape the young writer into a classy young man. The detail with which Ruark recounts hunting expeditions, meals, and characters of his childhood are amusing and endearing. Reading this narrative is a slow and relaxing way to spend a summer day in the South.

[Robert Attaway Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruark spent his summers with his grandfather who taught him to hunt and fish as a sportsman and in the process how he should act in the world as he lived his life. These lessons stuck with Ruark his whole life. This is a excellent book for any young man!

[Teri Hannan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad read parts of this book to me when I was a kid. I remember loving the stories then. Now, reading the stories as an adult, I loved it even more. It is a well-written nod to a childhood spent outdoors under the tutelage of a wise and devoted grandfather.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for the bookshelf; I return again and again.

[Daryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

To appreciate having known, in my case briefly, a grandfather--read great-grandfather--who had time for you, with few distractions and a lifetime of wisdom to offer.

[Benjamin Sprueill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book that I read with my father and to this day I still remember almost every page, This one book and the time I got with my Father has forever changed my life!

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top-ten favorite reads.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book ever. I've read it at least once a year for over 40 years!

[Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six stars if I could.

[Kate Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Dad had me read this book when I was young.
Beautiful story.....

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 4 out of 5]

A master class in how to raise a boy. The respect his grandfather demanded and bestowed made Bob Ruark's childhood idyllic and shaped his character. At least we'll credit the Old Man with the better parts of it.

The book has the same masculine nostalagic character as A Child's Christmas in Wales, which makes sense since Ruark's and Thomas's lives pretty neatly overlapped although they grew up on opposite sides of the Atlantic. And they both, sadly, drank themselves to death. Which just goes to show that you can do everything right, but if Jesus isn't in it, it'll all turn out wrong.

The book also has the flavor of Farmer Boy with its abundance of descriptions of a boy's first love—food. And there was an overlap of bird hunting with the Phil Robertson book I read recently.

The narrator was OK, but I don't think he was right for the book. I tracked down a video of the author, and though his voice had become cosmopolitanized in adulthood, it still had a hint of Carolina. A stronger accent would have been perfect for the book.

[Jafry M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book really gives you a feel of early 1900’s life in Carolina. The tips about being out doors, hunting and life tips are great. The more the books went in the more I enjoyed it. The book towards the end has me thinking about my granddad even though we had a completely different relationship.

[Jonah Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute masterpiece. I grew up half a country away and many years later, yet this really brought back a lot of memories of my youth with my grandpa.