Spencer's Mountain: The Family that Inspired the TV Series The Waltons

by Earl Hamner Jr.

High up on a mountain, young Clay-Boy Spencer joins his father and eight uncles to hunt the mythical white deer. What he finds on the mountainside changes his life--and marks him for a special destiny. Years later, Clay-Boy is the first in his family to get the chance to go to college; but success as an adult is much more complicated and bittersweet than the legendary success of Clay-Boy's childhood quest.

A heartwarming novel of love, family, and hope, Spencer's Mountain inspired the popular television show The Waltons, which starred Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, and Michael Learned, and ran for nine years between 1972 and 1981. More than fifty years after its publication, this novel still has the power to inspire and move readers all over the world.

Runtime: 9. 66 hours, 8 library CDs

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classics, Southern, Literary Fiction, Audiobook, Historical

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Earl Henry Hamner Jr. (born July 10, 1923 in Schuyler, Virginia), was an American television writer and producer (sometimes credited as Earl Hamner), best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s on the long-running CBS series The Waltons and Falcon Crest. As a novelist, he was best known for Spencer’s Mountain, which was inspired by his own childhood and formed the basis for both the film of the same name and the television series The Waltons, for which he provided voiceover narration.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the time of year to return to this story, which relates to a Christmas classic I love to read. This is a re-read of a classic novel, whose 1963 film adaptation also works well for the curious reader. This piece preceded the famous television show The Waltons. Please enjoy the review I originally posted during my first read-through of this book:

Earl Hamner Jr. invites readers to take a trip back to the 1930s and explore the Blue Ridge Mountains in rural Virginia, where the Spencers have lived for generations. Clay and Olivia are trying to raise a family the best they can, helped by the eldest, Clay-Boy, and the strong-willed community. As the story progresses, the narrative takes the reader through some of the adventures undertaken by members of the family, but there are two story arcs that weave their way throughout: Clay's trying to build a house for his family with his own two hands, and Clay-Boy's attempt to get accepted to college. While one dream hinges on the demise of the other, the Spencers come together through thick and thin, putting the larger family before their own interests. A great story for those who loved the Waltons, or anyone who seeks to see the power of working together, treating family as a team and not a collection of rivals.

I am familiar with Hamner Jr.'s other Walton-based story, The Homecoming, and when given the chance to read this book, I did not hesitate. Those familiar with The Homecoming, in its book or television movie form, will see many of the stories that arise from that tale are told in greater detail herein. Hamner Jr. seeks not only to tell the story of the Spencers, but also to show how poverty need not impede a family's ability to live a happy life, even in the Depression. Readers who can divorce themselves from the rigours of fast-paced thrillers or superficial pieces of fiction will enjoy this tale that warms the heart and brings a tear to the eye at the same time.

Kudos, Mr. Hamner Jr. for your wonderful tale. It warms my heart to read this each Christmas season!

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Karen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Spencer’s Mountain” by Earl Hamner Jr.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Such a heartfelt, loving and good for the soul read. I can completely understand why the movie “The Walten’s” taken from this book was such an incredible series and went on for so long. Their love, caring and complete devotion for each other was such a blessing. How sad that today’s family values have disappeared in so many ways.

[Ashley Marie]

Thank god for OhioLink. *grabby hands* The Waltons is my favorite.

[Chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I enjoyed this book, every page was a joy! When simple life was still there and stories weren't too complicated. I haven't really watched the tv series, but I do wish there would be more books like this or that this would have been a series of books. Fun to read on your weekend.

[Kathy Ferrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. I read it years ago, and I remember most clearly the youngest child, a girl named Patty-Cake (the basis for Elizabeth on the tv series "The Waltons") shocking her family at the dinner table by saying, "Damn, damn, double-damn, triple damn, HELL!".

She learned it from Daddy, naturally. It was fun to read a more frank depiction of Hamner's life. Like "Little House on the Prairie", the books are much more honest and interesting than those squeaky-clean, extra-nice television shows.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to watch reruns of The Waltons with my mother and I could see the similarities between the characters in the book and the television show. I can easily see why people reading the book were eager to see it play out onscreen.

If you like family stories, this one will capture your heart. The story centers around the family's eldest son, Clay-Boy finishing high school and attending the University of Richmond. Clay-Boy lives in the family home with his parents, Clay and Olivia, grandparents, Elizabeth & Zebulon, and his brothers and sisters- Matt, Mark, Luke, John, Becky, Shirley, Patti-Cake, Donnie and the twins Franklin Delano & Eleanor.

Listen, Clay-Boy,” said Frances. “If you were meant to be a great man in this world you’ll be one no matter whether you get to college or not. They haven’t got all the education in the world locked up down there at the University of Richmond. You can read, can’t you?


If you're nostalgic for the days when big families would gather after church on Sunday, then heading to Spencer's Mountain will be a treat.






Goodreads review published 02/09/24

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

My motivation for reading "Spencer's Mountain" had to do with the author, Earl Hamner Jr., whose name became familiar to me as the result of the TV series "The Waltons." I must admit that I loved the show even though most of my friends questioned my sanity as a result. Recently, I had an opportunity to view many of the episodes again and was happy to discover that they stand the test of time. The TV series was so well written that I felt like each and every Walton was a member of my extended family.

While I will admit that this is one of the rare instances where the TV series is better than the book, "Spencer's Mountain" is still very much worth the read. It isn't accurate to say that "The Waltons" is based on this book; rather, there are echoes of "Spencer's Mountain" in "The Waltons." The book tells a simple story, that's true. But it is this very simplicity that allows it to work so well. The time honored values represented here -- love of family, hearth and home -- are the core of this novel. While one of the subplots is quite weak, the overall experience is one you won't want to miss.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Claris ruined this book for me.

I didn't find her a very believable character and didn't like the influence she had on Clay-boy.

I'll agree with another reviewer that I didn't like how this book presents pre-marital sex in a somewhat nonchalant manner.

Otherwise, I loved all of the other characters in this book, thought the writing was awesome, and was very sad to put it down 3/4 through.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyed the book, but it was definitely NOT "The Waltons" and it certainly isn't for any age group either.

[J.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember "The Waltons" on television when I was a kid, but I'm not sure I ever watched much of it (it was more like the kind of show my grandma would watch). I was always resentful of the "Good night, John-boy" line at the end (if your name was John, you heard that stupid line from other teasing kids way more than a few times back then). But last month I saw Richard Thomas (the John-boy actor) play Atticus Finch on the stage and somehow found this book.

In the book it's "Clay-boy," which sounds even dumber than "John-boy." And the book starts slowly - so slowly I nearly marked it DNF and moved on. But I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. It's the story of the Spencer family of rural Virginia during the Depression. They're poor "hill people" but their son, Clay-boy, shows promise for going to college - if they can afford it. (Apparently, the story is semi-autobiographical of the author, Earl Hamner Jr.) Overall, I really enjoyed the book (enough that I even watched the first episode of the television show). A very nice, easy-paced kind of read.

For a few minutes after he reached his seat his eyes were clouded with tears, but when they were clear again he saw that the bus was nearing the top of a steep mountain road.
“Goen far, son?” asked an old farmer sitting next to him.
“Right far,” the boy said, and watched as the bus arrived at the top of the mountain and went on into the beckoning world.

[Chelsea Hagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I wish I could own a copy. I like that it was like the Walton's. It was funny because Clay boy or John boy was not the innocent boy you watch on the TV show. The book was much more realistic. I really enjoyed the descriptive writing.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it before it became what "The Waltons" was based on. Pretty good.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Spencers are simple folk who make the most of a modest life. Though slow and easy-paced at times, the story remains enjoyable.

[Dulci · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am very puzzled by the readers who have rated this book with 5 stars. Now, it certainly has well-written descriptions of rural Virginia and good character development (though I can't quite determine how much of this is the book and how much should actually be credited to the TV series), but it is truly not 5-star 'amazing'. I had to stretch a little just to give it 3 stars. To each his own, I suppose.

That being said, there are several aspects of this book I really enjoyed. I liked seeing a more accurate description of rural living during the Depression era. (Let's face it, the TV show depicts the family as being way better off than reality would ever allow!) I liked getting to know this close-knit family who worked so hard for every inch, yet never resented that hard work and never expected to get anything without paying for it themselves. These are such good qualities (...and getting in shorter supply). I also liked, as I mentioned earlier, the descriptions of the countryside. I've spent some time in central Virginia; it is indeed beautiful.

As with many reviewers, I did not care for Claris. Many aspects of this character made me pull away and think, "Ugh. Not her again." Would a boy like Clay-Boy really have been pulled into the web of such a girl as this? Irritating, to say the least. And their little tryst on the mountain? Again, ugh. The book lost a whole star right there.

However, more than that, what I found most objectionable in this book was the way the parents and grandparents addressed each other most of the time. Yes, the daddy woke the mama every morning with a gentle, "Sweetheart." That was endearing. But what we see most times are terms such as, "Old Woman", "Old Fool", "Crazy Man", and so on. Now, I feel like I have just as much appreciation for sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek as the next person, but I also appreciate that you "draw more flies with honey than with vinegar". And it just seems to me that a loving family at this time in history, trying to raise their children right, with proper respect for their elders and for each other, would consider their words... or rather that the writer should consider his words. Then again, with all due respect, Mr. Hamner seems to have a much more colorful (ahem) vocabulary than I would tolerate in my house.

All in all, I am very pleased to have read this book, not so pleased to have paid for this book.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the time of uncertainty...
I search for books that comfort or challenge me depending on my mood. Spencer's Mountain was a cheap Kindle read and I wanted to read Earl Hamner's words for myself. He wrote many screenplays as a young man before the movie, Spencer's Mountain and later The Waltons.
This book closely follows the movie, not the show. The movie was set in Montana, but we know that Spencer's mountain was in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
This story is "quaint" but also rich in the dialogue, the storytelling and strong characters. Clay Spencer dreamed the American Dream we used to embrace- that the next generation strive to go farther than those who came before them. Clay wishes to send Clay-Boy to college, but must let go of his dream to fulfill his son's dream.

Enjoyable read of simplier, but no less challenging times.

[K.M. Updike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spencer's Mountain captures a moment in time. A time that encapsulates the real and the hard, the beautiful and the honest. And Earl Hammer captures it wonderfully, treasureing the sweet moments and the people that are often the smallest and the easiest to forget in ways that make them unforgettable.

[Yaaresse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this years ago and loving Hamner's clear, simple storytelling style.

[Teri Pre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I'd anticipated, but I can see where Hamner got a lot of his ideas for The Walton's.

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was made into a movie, but I haven't seen it. It is similar to The Homecoming but not as enjoyable. I would have liked this more if Claris hadn't been in the story. I could not stand her; she was horrible. The rest of the characters were fine. The story was fine, too. It would have been better if one thing hadn't happened.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

We listened to this driving back and forth to "the farm" near Nellysford, VA because the fictional Spencer's Mountain is located right where our farm is. We were taken a bit by surprise at the characterization of the local Baptists, known only for their legalism and the looseness of morals in a community we might have thought of as more "upstanding" as in "The Waltons" TV show. However, perhaps the general illiteracy and backwardness of the small, remote hill community is more accurate to the early 20th century than I realized.

[Wendy Poole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually laughed out loud a few times. Not quite the innocent book I was expecting.

[Cheryl]

Nope. I mean, I grew up in a rural family, my dad & uncle hunted though we didn't like venison (didn't get a deer often), etc.... but I just no longer can get behind the lauds of nostalgia. It was actually not a better time to live, esp. for women.... just, no.

p. 28 August 2025

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, I will have to try to find another copy of it. I grew up on The Waltons TV show, but originally it all began with The Homecoming to watch during Christmas. I always wanted to be part of a large family, who were self sufficient and Christians. I loved all the characters, from the youngest child, Elizabeth, to the oldest John-boy (as known on TV or Clay-boy in Spenser's Mountain.)

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed a ton while reading this book! Would have given it a 5 except for how premarital immorality was treated as "to be expected from young people" provided that the girl didn't end up pregnant. This occurs at the end of the book.

[Dara S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not blow me over 5 stars, but I really, really enjoyed this folksy, family story.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The TV series "The Walton's" was based on this book.

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars, really. I nearly gave it 4 stars though.

The Waltons is my all-time favorite T.V. show and has been since I watched reruns in the late 1980s/earliest 1990s with my mom. It is so heartwarming and charming, despite the Depression age struggles they went through. I figured it was time to read the book in which the show was based off of, granted the episodes were all narrated by the author too, so I knew it wouldn't be too different.

I was very surprised at how much the book reflected in the show! I believe every single chapter I could see bits and pieces of various episodes in my head. I am curious how many of these different factors actually occurred in Earl Hamner's own life, since the book was inspired from his childhood.

Clay-Boy Spencer is the main character (this would be our John-Boy). He is finishing up his last year of high school and is planning on his college education. Clay and Olivia Spencer are his parents. I absolutely loved how much love they had for one another and their children too. Clay Spencer is the type of father that every child would really want to have. He does whatever he can and sacrifices things for the sake of his children, while wanting them to get an education that he never was able to get. Olivia has baby after baby (though there is a bit of a gap between the first and second children, which I found interesting). In the start of this book there were nine children but by the end of it there are eleven.

I giggled and thoroughly enjoyed so much of this book! I really had a good time reading it. I felt connections to so many of the characters, while learning about them. It was a really entertaining and lovely story. It is like a Depression aged Anne of Green Gables with a teen boy as the main character instead. It was fascinating.

Here's the part that surprised me in this book. There actually was a bit of language in it, though some of the "language" was fake to take the place of actual bad words, which was interesting and something I haven't seen often. The mother in this book definitely states how she doesn't like any of it being said while the father states how he likes using it. There is one use of the N word to describe a black person. There was talk about Jewish people with a statement like, "What's a Jew?" It was out of ignorance stated and not hatred (and it is embraced in one part completely). There was a description of a cow and bull having sex but the father is explaining it in comparison to people and stating how much different it is between a married couple. Even the mother talks to her son about a similar thing before this scene. There is talk about sex throughout the book as one of the female characters is very curious about sex. There is more about that young girl that I would mention but it is a bit of a spoiler.

Therefore, make sure you don't allow young kids to read this book. It is definitely made more for adults.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

General Overview
A book I've been searching for for years. One I was glad to find. I was surprised by how much Spencer's Mountain moved and inspired me. A deeply human piece, its simple narrative, and story have great hidden depth, that is as relevant now as when it was written.

Style
I first came across this story in the credits to The Waltons many years ago. Back in 2018, I first tried to find Spencer's Mountain. Not in print, not on audible, my search expanded. Charity shop after charity shop with no luck.

Finally, a gift from my mum at Christmas. It is with a warm of this present that I eagerly went to read this classic. Mr Hamner's writing is solid throughout, and he really captures the pleasant sense of the period, but with the deep truth and honest of a land heading towards the Great Depression. The scenes of these mountains are beautifully painted in the minds eye. The characters are all a delight to read. The naves are fun to hate, the heroes I feel so deeply for.

Story
Following the Spencer family, whose family trace their routes back to the first to go West and reach the mountain of their name sakes, this story is one about a struggle for a better life. Clay Spencer, father, quarryman, cusser, and fisher, has a dream to build the perfect family home upon the mountain of his forebears, away from the dusty backbreaking life of the quarry that sits near the village of New Dominion.

The signs of the heartlessness of capitalism are clear throughout this book. As equally on show is the love and appreciation of honest kind hearted people, in a world surrounded by nature. No paradise is shown, and the main characters have their faults, but this only adds to their realism and charm.

The story has surprising grip to it. There is a true sadness, but hope to the ending, that I only half saw coming. A different ending may have been nicer, but not what was needed for the point behind the story. That of family, and what you will sacrifice for them, against the realities of the world.

Final Thoughts
Well worth the wait and the search, Spencer's Mountain was everything I was looking for in a book. In my top 5 reads for the year, I cannot recommend it enough.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Matthew 5:3-10

Spencer's Mountain. Also known as The Waltons… but not quite The Waltons you may be familiar with.

Understanding all reviews and ratings on Goodreads are subjective – that should always go without saying - it is beyond my comprehension that this book is not more widely known and recognized for the treasure it is. I’m sad to say that I was not even aware of its existence until a couple years ago, and that was only because I googled Earl Hamner, Jr. after falling in love with the television series during the early weeks of the pandemic. I just did not have an appreciation for the program when I was growing up… And as with so many things, true appreciation only comes with time and some life experience.

The story follows Clay-Boy Spencer and his family over the course of a year in rural Appalachia during the 1930s. At the beginning of the book he is 15 years old – old enough to finally go on the annual Thanksgiving hunt with his father and eight uncles. However, the night before their trek, his grandfather tells the family a story about a mythical white deer in the local woods. There is a premonition here. Should any man ever harvest this deer, he will be marked for life; it will set the course for his destiny. Well. Young Clay-Boy, barely up to the rigors of the hunt, sees the deer the next day and takes it. The boy is now a young man, and his steps are forever changed; he is destined for greatness.

There are indeed many similarities between the novel and the tv show. Enough that as I read the book, I heard the voice of Mr. Hamner narrating in my head. However, it is important to mention that the book acknowledges some very adult themes. In fact, I was a bit surprised how straightforward it is regarding human nature: our beliefs and values, our struggles, and our most basic urges and motivations. But these topics are handled with such a gentleness towards the human condition, and a reverence towards our Creator, that there is nothing gratuitous or offensive about them. The Spencer family is not perfect, but they embody true, holy love. Something we don’t see exemplified nearly enough these days.

[Jimmy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been looking for "Spencer's Mountain" (at a reasonable price) forever, having seen the movie (with Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara, and James MacArthur) several times. Now that I've read the book, I can see the movie was surprisingly loyal to it, with changes primarily to location (movie was Wyoming Tetons, book Virginia Appalachians) and time period (movie was 1950-60's, book 1930's).

"Spencer's Mountain" is the story of a rural Virginia family - rich in core values but poor in actual cash - and their efforts to get see that the oldest child is able to attend college during the 1930's depression. Although the boy has the desire, the abilities and the drive, the funds are the key sticking point. Father Clay Spencer is determined to see that all his children do better than he did, not just by completing high school but perhaps even going farther. Clay is bigger than life, and his sayings, stories, curses and habits fill the book, but his oldest son's dreams permeate every quiet moment, and lay the groundwork for the family future.

This was Earl Hamner's second novel, which he based on his own childhood in Schuyler, Virginia; he named the novel after his paternal grandmother Susan Henry Spencer Hamner. This book also provided the basis for "The Waltons" (named after another family member), although adult themes were sanitized for the television hour. Towards that end, I should mention that Clay Spencer is forthright in the book about his trouble with organized religion of any kind, and that his oldest son Clay Spencer Jr. is taught about intimacy by his father while watching a cow and a bull, and has an undescribed intimate encounter with his girlfriend.

The book was easy, almost Scholastic Book Club level, reading, but I believe that is due in part to the simple values and messages conveyed. I had hoped there was more story than what the movie showed. But if I had read the book first, I would have loved the movie even more for being so loyal. A kind book, with heart, about a hardworking family during the depression.