THE FAR FRONTIER : 1961 Weekly Reader : Children's Book Club

New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace, 1961. First Edition . Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Paul Galdone (Illustrator). Text/As New; faint margin discoloration & light water (?) stain to upper corner tips of pgs 103 -124. Illustrated grey boards/NF. DJ/VG w/trace shelfwear. Tennessee natural history. Set in 1791 when the state was known as the "Territory South of the River Ohio". Tennessee native, William Owen Steele (1917 - 1979), spent much of his youth exploring the woods around his home which led to an interest in the history of the area and its pioneers. In this story, young Tobias' first impression of Asa Twistletree was not appealing --- he saw a "skinny, twisted & dried up" little man w/spectacles, in leather britches & a ragged coat, on his hands & knees "a-studying ants." Tobias soon finds himself 'bound out' to Mr. Twistletree, loosing previous interest in blacksmithing to follow the odd-looking naturalist, Mr. Twistletree of Philadelphia. in studying flora & fauna of open lands ... even venturing into hostile Chickamauga Indian Territory! Story of an early American naturalist. 185 pgs w/line drawings from Paul Galdone (1907 - 1986), illustrator & writer known best for children's picture books.