A very moving autobiographical tale of the author's life just before WW I. His family live in poverty but there is never a hint of self pity or resentment yet the hunger for more from life than the grinding physical hard work he takes on as a farm labourer clearly flows throughout. Of his 5 shillings a week pay he only keeps 1 shilling (the rest going to his mother) and all of it is spent on secondhand copies of books from a market stall where books are 3d each making him feel wealthy in choosing his 4 books each week. Through these books he educates himself, including learning Latin and eventually finds the elation of freedom in a scholarship to Durham University. ( )

A heartwarming story with biting moments of restrained anxiety and fury in the face of social inequality and immovability. Richard Hillyer (real name Charles James Stranks) recounts his years of adolescence in a small English village at the turn of last century. His family is poor and the prospects for social advancement are indeed bleak. Societal relationships are rigid, so there is little chance to escape from set patterns. Education is a luxury not to be counted on for advancement. In spite of all expectations Richard manages to find a streak of inspiration from the chance discovery of some old, battered books meant to be burned as kindling, and his world, a very private one, begins to open and grow. Descriptions of the environment are bucolic and poetic.

Country Boy is an autobiographical, straight account of success based on personal effort and enormous dignity. It lifts the spirits and truly manages to spark some faith in the improvement of human nature. The book should be kept at hand for dipping into at any time that a breath of hope and encouragement is needed. ( )