A Son of the Hills

"A Son of the Hills" by Harriet T. Comstock is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Sandy Morley, a young boy living in the impoverished Lost Hollow, who is determined to rise above his circumstances and seek a better life for himself and his family. Set against the backdrop of the post-Civil War South, the novel explores themes of class disparity, personal ambition, and the quest for identity amidst familial and societal struggles. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Lost Hollow and its inhabitants, who are depicted as downcast and marginalized individuals struggling with poverty and social stigma. Sandy's home life is fraught with turmoil, particularly due to his father's troubled marriage to Mary and the shadow of their past. Sandy displays an early yearning for change, manifesting his desire to escape the squalor of his home through his budding entrepreneurial ventures, selling nature's bounty for money. He dreams of going to Massachusetts for education and a chance at a better life, all while navigating his complex relationships with Cynthia Walden, a girl from the more affluent part of town, and his own family. The opening chapters set the stage for Sandy's ambitions, his struggles against a heritage of shame and poverty, and the challenges he must face as he seeks to forge his path.