Eben Holden

by Irving Bacheller

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Genres: Fiction, Classics, Novels

268 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1900

About the author

Addison Irving Bacheller was an American journalist and writer who founded the first modern newspaper syndicate in the United States.

Reviews

[Debra Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is said to have been my grandfather's favorite book. It sounds like him, so close to the land. As I read it, I could see him walking through the woods.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and interesting story of kind, loving, homey people. One of the best selling books in the early 1900’s. Delightfully read by Roger Melin.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a two year bestseller, coming in at number five for both 1900 and 1901. Somewhat a strange title in that while Eben Holden is a major character in the book, he's not the hero of the story. Kind of like having a book about Luke Skywalker and naming it R2D2. The story is about his nephew William Brower and written in the first person from his perspective. The book covers William growing up as an orphan in his uncle's care from about age 6. Most of the book takes place in upper New York near the St. Lawrence river border with Canada but the final quarter or so finishes in New York City. The time period is about 1820-1880. I really enjoyed reading the book and found myself unusually eager to read it. Not a lot happens in the book but I enjoyed the scenes of early 19th century farm life. Compared to other books written about the same time Eben Holden is very easy to read. I liked weaving the real life Horace Greeley into the story. There is a Dickens-like twist at the end that I didn't see coming. It was kind of corny but didn't ruin the story in any way. I would recommend if you want to read about a slice of early 19th century rural America.

[Zendelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first half of this book, in which the narrator describes his childhood and his flight from Vermont to New York with his Uncle Eb. The second half, when he is grown, has a somewhat lame love story which is less compelling.

[Susan C Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captures country personality & good character. Historical America

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olde timey book with great characters, stories and plot line.seems to me I was born in the wrong century.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A coming of age novel in which the hero is an orphan who fought in the Civil War. A pleasant read.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting view of upstate New York, and New York City, in the latter half of the 19th century

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel about the Adirondacks during the middle of the 19th century. Mostly anecdotal, it gives a hopefully accurate portrayal of life in that place in those times. Unfortunately, it loses momentum once the title character leaves the story and the narrator goes to New York City to pursue a career in journalism and woo his childhood sweetheart. There is an interesting but melodramatic section about the Battle of Bull Run and then the story lags again despite the return of Uncle Eb. I don't know if I was tired or what but his scenes were almost impossible to understand toward the end. How the author finally ends the novel was something of a let down.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

fair. it felt like two different novels because it starts with prairies and farms and ends in NYC with a little Civil War in the middle. but that's the nature of a biography, I suppose. also the sudden return of the long "dead" son was completely out of sync with the rest of the book which was very practical. and it was all in dialect too which is just a distraction to me when I read. you'd probably like it if you love historical fiction which I usually don't.

[Angie Bates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beware of the "swifts"

[Natalie W.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best seller of 1900,1901. Life and language hasn't necessarily advanced in all ways good. This is a wonderful example of the lives of our not too distant ancestors experienced.