Harold Bell Wright may have published "The Eyes of the Word in 1915, but its message is directly applicable to today. Behind the captivating saga of a portrait painter romancing a violinist under the scrutiny of his famous novelist yokefellow, a renowned media critic, and mismatched promiscuous art patrons is a morality play that is just as timely as it was a nearly a hundred years ago.

The narrative repeatedly laments the success bestowed upon much so called "art" that debauches that title. Conrad LaGrange, the celebrated author, begrudgingly iterates that his wealth and esteem have been acquired by accentuating the profane and sacrificing the nobility of his profession. Reading of such a contretemps, it is hard not to ponder the likes of Madonna, Howard Stern, Roseanne Barr and host of other modern icons who've built their careers on the meretricious rather than the meritorious.

As usual Harold Bell Wright displays his masterful command of the written word. Few other authors can match him when it comes to unfolding action in a manner that engages the reader from the first sentence to the satisfying conclusion

A young, rookie, naive preacher comes to the Ozark town of Corinth to take the reins of the church. He was raised in the mountains and is a strong man. He quickly generates a rapport with the working class of the town. However, the church elders dislike him on account of his sermons drifting from the old "Jerusalem" stories they are accustomed. Instead, he preaches loving the down-trodden and the poor.

The problem is that the church elders have reasons for disliking the people Dan preaches love for. The chief elder, a "Judge" Strong, collects property and would like to possess a widow's farm. Matthews, becomes friends with widow and a local female pariah (who's father shot the widow's husband), which angers the elders.

The crux of this romance / western book is how much of an individual a minister is. To collect his salary, must he spout the elder's / church's law regardless of his moral feelings or does he have a right to disagree with the policies of the church? Ultimately, the church politics win and a great minister is forced back to his homeland (winning a bride in the process).

This book was rather deep. There were many wise paragraphs involving the purposes of church and religion. I think Wright felt that a belief in God and a practice of his teachings were more important than going to church for the sake of going to church. Dan Matthews finds out the hard way that all people don't believe this and that some of the church's doctrines have ulterior motives.

This book is eye opening to organized religion, but shows what true christianity is. Even though it takes place at the turn or the century or there abouts, its lessons pertain to life today.

This was my favorite. Things have not changed between the early part of the century and now with regards to how most ministers are treated by the congregation. It is truly sad but the things that bothered HBW when he wrote these books are still going strong today. I must read for all churchgoers.

This is an edited reprint of the Harold Bell Wright classic "That Printer of Udell's."

The Least of These My Brothers is as complete and well written a book as I have ever read. Harold Wright brings out the emotion of the people of the early twentieth century in a truly unique way. I was imedietly captivated by the suspence, intrigue, and romance combined in this soulfull story. As penniless Dick Falkner, searching Amy Goodrich, and steady George Udell make their way through life you will laugh, cry, and love right along with them

I have read this book some six times and each time I enjoy it as much as if I had read it for the first time. Being from the Ozarks, I find a special attraction to the charm of the natives and the descriptions of those beautiful hills. Harold Bell Wright weaves a mysterious tale that keeps you spellbound from chapter to chapter. This book is a classic.

If you want to see the Ozark Mountains and their inhabitants painted in brilliant colors, this is the book to read. There is no other way to describe this timeless story of simple yet wise and loving people who move their lives with such dedication to that which is best in mankind. Harold Bell Wright shows us the world not only through the good times, but through the hardships that make us who we are. By the last chapter, you are completely involved in these gentle people and want them to continue to be a part of your life. You experience the pain, the mystery, and the wonder of life itself. Thank goodness for the sequel, "The Calling of Dan Matthews" so that you can continue the journey with these wonderful friends.

I have this book and send this book as gifts. It is a fictional account of actual occurrances. Extremely well written and thought provoking, this book is a must have for anyone's library. The book portrays events that happened during post civil war Branson, MO. Written in 1907 by Harold Bell Wright as he lived with the very characters of his manuscript. His skillful writing colorfully depicting the characters in the Ozark Mountain community is superb. From the opening verbal panarama of the Hills and valleys to the rough riding Baldknobbers to the amazing secret that was found in the cave... This book is a must read.

I found my copy of this book at a flea market ..., and I figured I couldn't go wrong [the] price [I paid]. ... I have given the book three stars simply because its Christian theme and style of writing was new to me, and as a result it did keep me occupied and involved until the end. ... The author has built the story and its resolution upon amazing coincidences after conincidences. Maybe the reader can swallow one of them, two at the most, but this is an unending chain. As this is a Christian book, possibly the reader of the era in which it was written -- the turn of the 20th Century -- would look upon the happenings as God's will, but I found it totally unbelievable. I'm glad I read the book, because it is most unusual and foreign to today's modern literature, but I don't believe I would want to read another of Wright's books. Maybe if I was living at the turn of the century with that trusting mindset, he would become a favorite author. But, today the book is just a curiosity piece.

Another salutary story showing how Harold Bell Wright earned the sobriquet of "Storyteller to America." I did not know but am not surprised by the previous reviewer's observation that Ronald Reagan read this work as a boy and was profoundly touched by it. There is something so American about Mr. Wright's works and this upright, exciting tale is no exception. Fleshed out characters populate a fast-paced allegory where true Christianity is venerated while those who are Christian in name only are seen to be lacking.

This release was one of Mr. Wright's first -if not his actual debut novel, and it made a promise that his prolific career kept.

Any political junkie or political scientist who wants to understand Ronald Reagan the man and the politician must start with this book. Young Reagan read it when he was 11 years old and promptly decided that he wanted to become an evangelical Christian, informing his Mother that he wanted to be baptized. Reagan obviously identified with the protagonist of this story who like Reagan was the son of an alcoholic father who through the power of faith became a better man and works to change his community through his church. The book concludes with his marching off to Washington to assume a political career. Sound familiar?

Don't miss this book!

Harold Bell Wright was one of the favorite authors of President Ronald Reagan. In fact, Reagan credited Wright's first book for convincing him to be baptized. But more than that, Harold Bell was one of the most popular American Authors of the early 20th Century. From 1903 to 1942, Wright authored 19 novels that yielded 15 movies. From 1911 to 1923, six of his books made top ten best seller lists. His first seven novels had a combined sales exceeding seven million, a world's record at the time. He was far more popular than his contemparies Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and H.L. Menken. But the latter three live on, while today hardly anybody has heard of Harold Bell Wright. Why has he disappeared from the literary scene? Why was he the most ridiculed writer of his generation even though his books appeared in more homes than any other save the Bible. That's the mystery biographer Lawrence V. Tagg tries to answer in this book as he sketches Wright's life, a life that began in such poverty and desperation that Wright's health was adversely affected throughout adulthood. In the '20s, according to Tagg, if a child went into a library requesting a Wright book, the librarian would try to talk him into something else. Even with his immense popularity, it is almost impossible to find a Wright book in today's libraries. Most are confined to garage sales and flea markets. Could the answer lie in the fact that Wright, a preacher, used his books as a pulpit as he pushed his agenda for "practical" Christianity and non-denominational religion? TAGG lays out a case for this and other theories. It's a well-researched, interesting read about a literary giant who is all but forgotten. If nothing else, the book will make you want to search out Wright books and give them a try.

Here is another demonstration of Harold Bell Wright working his magic on the printed page. In a solidly American tale, he vivifies his characters in palpable surroundings. His narrative makes readers feel as though they are witnesses to the action as it takes place.

Against a backdrop of union politics in a factory town, the book takes a strong swipe at Communism while simultaneously decrying corporate greed. Ironically, this work-published in the 1920s-while strongly opposed to Karl Marx's ruinous philosophy never uses the word, "communism." The repeated references are subtle but unmistakable as when a "foreign" labor-organizing rabble-rouser says that his greatest allegiance is to the "Big Union."

On the other side of the coin, the criticisms of big business are limited to corruption and extreme selfishness. These vices are seen as invidious precisely because they abuse capitalism. The concept of getting rich via hard work is esteemed, as are the virtues of honesty, generosity, and devotion to one's fellow man.

One of the likable characters is murdered near the end of the book which is likely a device to show the horror of communism. In a disquieting move, a plea for the killer's clemency seems divagating at best and certainly unjustified given the story. Despite that flaw, the book is a worthwhile read as much for its linguistic potency as for the emotionally inspiring plot. "Helen of the Old House" is one more example of why the author of "Shepherd of the Hills" became known as the "Storyteller to America."

With its testosterone-sounding title, one might expect this book to be a tale of priaptic exploits. But when realizing it's from the pen of master scribe Harold Bell Wright-once described as "the apostle of the wholesome" a more realistic plot comes to mind. This enjoyable adventure does take place on a ranch and pays apt tribute to the cowboy way but it is as unadulterated as the prairie sky over the Arizona mesa where its action commences.

The tale of an overly cultured gentleman who escapes to the untamed Southwest in an effort to become a true man lacks the trappings of modern tales of machismo. Rather it details the meatamorphasis of a citified plebian who follows his heart and embraces true responsibility, probity, and duty. Along the way he osculates the exciting episodes found in HBW's books and is influenced by the genuine characters who populate his oeuvre.

It seems every move that Mr. Wright ever made yielded a vibrant novel and fortunately his pereginrations took him far and wide. Few litterateurs have possessed a gift as keen as his in terms of creating a written diorama. When the book's action takes place at the rodeo, readers feel an impulse to get out of the way of charging steers. When Honorable Patches (a character's spur-of-the-moment pseudonym that sticks) gets into a fight, we duck his punches as a tropism. And in a later chapter as a careening car heads toward a trapped child, many readers will need to pause and catch an escaped breath.

A hagiography was published about Mr. Wright that bore the natural title "Storyteller to America." He conveyed the rudimentary as magical and invited readers to take part in daring quests from the safety of our easy chairs. "When a Man's A Man" is another one of his books that prove a grown-up allegory filled with suspense, romance, and excitement can be as pure as the desert air.

This book is not a story but a series of essays on what every person must encounter in life. It is told by reflections of a young man and a young woman. The reader guesses that these two may have known each other in the past and often times their thoughts refer to once another. They often think of how simpler and happier things were when they were children.

Wright's 12 facets of life are: Occupation, knowledge, ignorance, religion, tradition, temptation, life, death, failure, success and love. A chapter is devoted to each subject. Wright writes about how these items affect a person and define their character. He also expresses his opinion about what they have become in modern life. It appears he was upset at the woman entering into the workplace and thought it was a travesty to the home life.

I only read about half of the book before becoming incredibly bored with it. There was no tension, no story, and the insights were rare and ponderous. This book might be worthy to pick up again and read a chapter, but reading it all the way through tested my patience and I had to put it down.

A synoptic capsule of "Their Yesterdays" does not sound terribly enticing. The novel has no named central characters; the two protagonists are defined only as "the man" and the woman." The action is not chronological. The entire book is a series of flashbacks with each chapter devoted to a broad, theoretical topic like temptation, religion, success, failure, etc. There is very little dialogue and the exact whereabouts of the plot is never revealed. Still under the mastery of Harold Bell Wright, it works! The author of "Shepherd of the Hills" is able somehow to make the abstract diagram a satisfying, rewarding novel that rivals his other works. Why he ever attempted such a non-conventional approach is hard to imagine, but lovers of great literature are awfully glad that he did.

From the book 'Their Yesterdays' by Harold Bell Wright:

"There are Thirteen Truly Great Things of Life. No life can have less. No life can have more. All of life is in them. No life is without them all. They are: Dreams, Occupation, Knowledge, Ignorance, Religion, Tradition, Temptation, Life, Death, Failure, Success, Love, and Memories."

Although there is an entry for the man, and an entry for the woman, in today's Society, the man's entry is universal for both sexes. And my focus was primarily upon the Man's experiences. But the Woman's entries are well worth reading.

Woven through out the book are portions of shared childhood memories both visited when they went through each of the Thirteen Truely Great Things in Life, until the last two, Love and Memories. This they shared together. The entire book is an uplifting spiritual journey for all. I cherish my copy.

Publisher is The Book Supply Company in Publishers, Chicago. Copyright 1912

note that this is the same book as "The Calling of Dan Matthews". It is the sequel to "Shepherd of the Hills." It is a good story. One grows fond of the characters. The author paints a rather grim picture of the church run as a social and business club rather than as an organization which should be caring for the needs of people around it. Dan figures things out and there is a happy ending.

A Higher Call is another dulcet gem from the pen of Harold Bell Wright. Technically a sequel to his most famous work, "Shepherd of the Hills," this latter story can easily stand on its own. Except for a few references to "Shepherd" characters and the brief appearance of Dan Matthews's parents who figured prominently in the prequel, "A Higher Call" is an independent tale.

While never critical of organized religion, the novel does point out how hypocrisy can too often be found in churches' inner organizations. Unlike Hollywood's commonplace Christian-bashing which always fingers the clergy, this novel celebrates an idealistic young minister up against some self-important lay people who wield too much power and militate too many church policies. It is the embrace of true Christianity that Wright's works often subtly embrace, done here in a more overt fashion.

Readers should beware that "A Higher Call" is the exact same book as "The Calling of Dan Matthews." A new title is the sole difference. To paraphrase the Bard, a book this uplifting by any name is still a good read.