The Old Man's Boy Grows Older

The Old Man and the Boy #2

by Robert Ruark

The heartwarming sequel to the best-selling The Old Man and the Boy is a moving, nostalgic tale that will transport the reader back to a time when going fishing was not about fish, but the stories told afterward.

Genres: Fiction, Outdoors

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Robert Ruark was an author and syndicated columnist.

Born Robert Chester Ruark, Jr., to Charlotte A. Ruark and Robert C. Ruark, a bookkeeper for a wholesale grocery, young Ruark attended local schools and graduated from New Hanover High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. He graduated from high school at age 12 and entered the University of North Carolina at age 15. The Ruark family was deeply affected by the Depression, but despite his families' financial travails, he earned a journalism degree from the University of North 'Carolina at Chapel Hill.

During World War II Ruark was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy. Ruark served ten months as a gunnery officer on Atlantic and Mediterranean convoys.After the war Ruark joined the Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance. As the New York Times said, Ruark was "sometimes glad, sometimes sad, and often mad--but almost always provocative." Some of his columns were eventually collected into two books, I Didn't Know It Was Loaded (1948) and One for the Road (1949).As he grew in notoriety, Ruark began to write fiction; first for literary magazines, and then his first novel, Grenadine Etching in 1947.

After he began to gain success as a writer, Ruark decided that it was time to fulfill a lifelong dream to go on safari to Africa. Ruark took an entire year off and began a love affair with Africa.As a result of his first safari, Ruark wrote Horn of the Hunter, in which he detailed his hunt.

In 1953, Ruark began writing a column for Field & Stream magazine entitled ''The Old Man and the Boy''. Considered largely autobiographical (although technically fiction), this heartwarming series ran until late 1961.

Ruark's first bestselling novel was published in 1955. It was entitled Something of Value and was about the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya.

Sometimes belittled as “the poor man’s Hemingway,” Ruark has nevertheless retained a loyal following among fans of nature writing. Bland Simpson wrote that he produced “some of the best ‘portraiture in words’ of hunting, fishing and life in the field that we have.”

Ruark died in London on July 1, 1965 most likely as a result of alcoholism.
Robert Ruark is buried in Palamos, Spain.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_R...

Reviews

[Chris Langdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect bookend to the story. This 2nd book delivered a nice soft landing from the previous one, The Old Man And The Boy, and wrapped up this wonderful story and the great characters perfectly. I wholeheartedly recommend these two books as a much needed respite from today's upside down chaotic world as our backdrop and leisurely escape into the woods for adventure and wily wizened life advice that enriched both the boy and the old man's lives. Enjoy.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in 2020 I stumbled on what would become one of my favorite books, Robert Ruark’s The Old Man and the Boy. The collection invited readers into a young boy’s childhood, one spent roaming the woods and coasts of the Carolinas in the twenties and thirties, absorbing lessons on life – from philosophy to the best approaches to hunting duck. The book’s star was the Boy’s grandfather, who could be both comic and stern at the same time, dispensing both folk wisdom and dissecting Montaigne over a single snort of whiskey. Although he’s the Boy’s guardian, he takes young Robert seriously, as the young man he might become. Ruark seems to spend most of his childhood in the company of the Old Man and his hunting friends, which is just as well: the one time he goes out on an adventure with his school friends, they end up with a live deer in a Tin Lizzie. The Old Man’s Boy Grows Older consists of a few more similar stories, this time in conjunction with Ruark’s own tales of his hunting expeditions in India and Africa, as he connects life lessons the Old Man imparted to his adult adventures. In this mix it’s rather like The Lost Classics, as each combined boy-Ruark and adult-Ruark adventures and connect them with wisdom from the Old Man – -but Lost Classics was far more dominated by the overseas adventures. The Old Man is as funny and insightful as ever, and I especially enjoyed Ruark’s account of determining to buy his grandfather’s house and restore it after a foreclosure, so that it might bring future generations the joy he found as a boy.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed The Old Man and the Boy, and this book is much the same. There is a lot here that is very un-PC these days, but soundness and simplicity are still at the core. I wonder, for all our progress, whether today's kids are really better off than the ones raised in rougher times. Don't read this book unless you've already read The Old Man and the Boy, and don't read either one if you're so thinned-skinned or self-righteous that you're unable to see the forest for the trees.

[Ted Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It didn’t live up to the impossible task of matching the first book. The first book really captured the essence of the relationship of the boy and the old man. Every story of hunting, fishing or hanging around in town painted such a vivid and heartwarming picture. This book I enjoyed here and there where the magic of the first showed through.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like The Old Man and the Boy, this sequel could be called a fictionalized memoir. Ruark now writes from the vantage point of an older man himself, having lived and hunted exotic game in such diverse places as Africa, India, and Spain. But always these later experiences relate to something of value he learned from or experienced with his Old Man, a wise and loving character fashioned after his two grandfathers, and he is off on a reminiscence. This book dragged a bit more than its predecessor but was still enjoyable. Remarkably, neither one contains any profanity or vulgarity. Ruark alludes to having exercised a healthy cussing vocabulary where fitting, but no offensive language appears in print — probably due to the 1950s standards of the magazine Field and Stream, where the stories first appeared as a series. Ruark's passion is the hunt, not the kill. He advocates sustainable wildlife management and deplores bloodthirsty murder in the wild. I loved the previous book (which takes place not far from where I live) and I liked this one  — in both cases for their human-interest value: the relationship between the boy and the Old Man and the wisdom so beautifully imparted.

[Maynard · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. The advice given by the old man was just as good as in the first book, but the characters themselves did not bring up pleasant memories of my own early hunting efforts. The old man's advice was a little more snarky and the lessons sometimes almost cruel. The boy became a trophy hunter, traveling the globe to kill varieties of birds and to collect heads for his walls. All of his companions seemed to be millionaires on fancy safaris. The worst part for me was the cruel way they sometimes treated their dog to break the stubborn ones. I had witnessed such a demonstration long ago and wanted nothing to do with such behavior.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know if a sequel would even come close to rivaling or even competing alongside the iconic 1st book, but I’m happy to say that was not the case.

The boy returns with more wisdom and more stories from his Old Man, and with an endearing twist as we’re given some insight brought on by his own growing older- this gives a sweet taste of mortality and a deeper meaning to some of the lessons brought with age. And appreciation for those previously told.

Plenty of dog-eared pages in this one as well. Another treasure for the library from the desk of Ruark.

[Drew Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Robert Ruark, but I don’t think this was his best work. The Old Man and the Boy was phenomenal, but this sequel missed the mark for me given the high bar Ruark had set in my mind with his other works. I would also highly recommend Horn of the Hunter. Both are very well written and a joy to read.

[Robin Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father and bruno

I love this book. Every story took me back to my father and my labra




dor bruno. Although the old man and the boy Made me think of things we did together, old man's boy made me think of how it affected me growing up. I'm78years now and I still think of it all. Never to old to use the lessons I learned.

[Ronald Kuschel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It took me back to simpler times. Kind of reminded me of my life as a kid back in the 1960's. If you grew up hunting and fishing and love the outdoors this is a great book for you.

[Anacapa Surveyors · Rating 5 out of 5]

A how to book on raising a male child.

Full of remarkable stories about the relationship of a boy with his grandfather and his grandfather’s friends. A good read for both a father and a grandfather.

[Michael Allen grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed

I have read this and The Old Man and The Boy and thoroughly enjoyed both it reminded me of my old man and being a kid.

[Tom Berryhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great continuation of stories based on the “Boy” and “The Old Man” ( his grandfather) Highly recommend!

[Paul Drawdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruark is at his usual, spinning great tales of adventures. The Old Mans Boy is still my favorite, this is a worthy companion.

[Melodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Jack T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

outstanding, to no surprise.

[Douglas Connally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another classic Ruark

Having read everything Ruark ever wrote, this one is one of his best and gives you a little more insight into the author.

[David Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Old Man’s Boy Grows Older (The Old Man and the Boy #2) by Robert Ruark (Holt Paperbacks 1961)(Biography). This is the sequel to one of my favorites. The boy has grown up and is now recounting the lessons learned from the Old Man, who is his grandfather. My rating: 7/10, finished 1980.

[Daryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

That Robert Ruark learned much from his experience as a big-game hunter in Africa, and that he truly appreciated the relationship of the hunter to the hunted, as well as the need and the value of male mentoring. The older you get, the more you will appreciate his writings.

[2patnt · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top five books of all time. I have a dog eared copy that I carry when I travel and it has been read in duck blinds, tents and on numerous hunting and fishing trips. Looking for a first edition in great shape to add to the bookshelf.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The “old man” imparts his life philosophy to his grandson as they hunt, fish and camp in coastal No Carolina in the 50s. The boy is based on the youngster Robert Ruark. Some said (I paraphrase) “ As long as there are men and boys, this book will be read”.

[Sandra Gallogly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this brought back the wind & old times.

I grew up with Llewellyn Setters & listening to the older people give sound advice and wisdom. Every parent and grandparent should read this guide to raising children!

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A follow up to the first. Its a little slower reading, as many follow ups are, but has some great short stories.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel takes a different point of view: the old man remembered, not present. Moves on to Africa.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

More of the same....couldn't finish it.

[Pat Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The just don't write enough of this kind of stuff...: ) I learned it from my father...: )

[Martin Hensley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sequel is rarely as good as the original. Worth reading, but Ruark should have stopped while he was ahead.

[Ron Antonucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

And again in 1971.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatness continues as the boy grows older.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as The Old Man and the Boy but still worth reading.