Rough Road Home: A True & Moving Story of One Woman's Courage Under Adversity

by Melissa Mather

The author describes her family's decision to move to a farm in Vermont and the problems they faced in adjusting to rural life

Genres: Memoir

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Melissa Mather Ambros, was an author and documented her families' story of moving to rural Vermont, in her gripping memoir called the “Rough Road Home”. They became homesteaders and raised cows for milk, cultivated beautiful gardens and grew some infamous potatoes! Excerpts from her book were featured in a series of Saturday Evening Post articles in 1958.

She was born Nov. 12, 1917, in Chicago, to Arlisle Mather Brown, an English teacher, and Alfred Bruce Brown, an electrical engineer. She launched an exceptional academic career in Montclair, N.J., where she and her sister, Mary, and brothers Bruce and Ted enjoyed an idyllic childhood. She graduated from high school at 15 and pursued a degree in English literature at Oberlin College, from which she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1939. The following three months she toured England by bicycle, a solo trip that launched her lifelong passion for making and for touring beautiful gardens.

Returning to the U.S., she entered Tob-Coburn Fashion School in New York City on a full scholarship, and a year later, she took a job as a stylist in a department store in Baltimore. She met her first husband, Lt. Robert Lee Coughlin, at a dance at Fort Meade.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring.

[Avis Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down.

[Bobcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This autobiography was written by a young, widowed mother of four children. It describes her experiences when she moves to a "country house" (small farm) in Vermont in the 1950s to raise her children.

It will appeal to those interested in country living, and what everyday life was like in the 1950s.

Those who enjoy an inspirational story will also find it worthwhile.

A note on editions --

(1) The Readers Digest Condensed Books version from 1958 excises a significant amount of the text
(2) The modern BackInPrint.com version omits ALL the photos! Big omission!

If possible, try to find the original imprint from the 50s.

You can read a bit more about the history of the farm and who lives there today at https://www.fatsheepfarmvermont.com/o....

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most memorable part of this memoir, written in the 50s concerns the Hartland Vermont “school fight”. Sadly, some things don’t seem to change as far as progress goes.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melissa Mather was given some tough breaks in life - was widowed and left with young children including a severely handicapped child, and in the middle of a move to a hardscrabble farm in Vermont. She responded with determination, perseverance, and cheerfulness. This is her story and how she turned her desperate circumstances into an enduring and reasonable life. One cannot help but admire and be inspired by this life journey.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non fiction, Rough Road Home captured my attention from the very start of the book. Ms. Mather tells the story of her family and their trials and losses and gains. An amazing story, an amazing woman.

[Sue Flanagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed all the reminders of my childhood growing up on a farm. I have a new view of Vermont...very rugged and beautiful!

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always one of my favorite books.