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

by Earl Hamner (Author)

In this classic novel that inspired the TV series The Waltons, a father struggles to support his large family in Depression-era rural Virginia.

For generations, the Spencers lived on the mountain that still bears their name in the Blue Hills of Virginia. But the hard times changed everything. Now Clay Spencer works at the local mill in New Dominion and lives with his family in housing provided by the company. A proud patriarch, he is determined to build his loved ones a new home in the hills. And he'll do whatever it takes to give his children the best lives possible--including his eldest son, Clay-Boy.

The first member of the family to graduate high school, Clay-Boy wants to go to college, but the cost of higher education is too great a burden for the Spencers to bear. Still, his father is not easily deterred, even in times of great trials and personal tragedy. But to help his firstborn achieve his cherished dream, the elder Clay may be forced to make a devastating sacrifice that could impact the future of the entire Spencer clan.

Based on the author's own family background and childhood experiences, and the basis for the classic motion picture featuring Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara, Spencer's Mountain is a moving celebration of familial love and commitment in the face of overwhelming odds. Evocative and unforgettable, it is a timeless American classic that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.

Author Biography

Born in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains, Earl Hamner, Jr., is an award-winning author, screenplay writer, and producer of several well-known teleplays and television series. He got his big break writing episodes for The Twilight Zone, including the popular "You Drive." His most well-known television series is The Waltons, which is based on his bestselling stories Spencer's Mountain and The Homecoming. Both novels were inspired by his own childhood.