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Uncle Tom Andy Bill: A Story of Bears and Indian Treasure
" . . . vintage early-twentieth-century romantic literature." ―Indiana Magazine of History
Originally published in 1908, Uncle Tom Andy Bill relates the boisterous boyhood adventures of the narrator, Thomas Andrew William Addison. By the author of The Bears of Blue River.
Originally published in 1908, Uncle Tom Andy Bill relates the boisterous boyhood adventures of the narrator, Thomas Andrew William Addison. By the author of The Bears of Blue River.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1908
About the author
Charles Major
95 books4 followersCharles Major (July 25, 1856 – February 13, 1913) was an American lawyer and novelist.
Born to an upper-middle class Indianapolis family, Major developed in interest in both law and English history at an early age and attended the University of Michigan from 1872 through 1875, being admitted to the Indiana bar association in 1877. Shortly thereafter he opened his own law practice, which launched a short political career, culminating in a year-long term in the Indiana state legislature.
Writing remained an interest of Major, and in 1898, he published his first novel, When Knighthood Was in Flower. The novel about England during the reign of King Henry VIII was an exhaustively researched historical romance, and became enormously popular, holding a place on the New York Times bestselling list for nearly three years. The novel was adapted into a popular Broadway play by Paul Kester in 1901, premiering at the Criterion Theatre that year. The novel also launched relatively successful film adaptations in 1908 and 1922.
With a successful writing career, Major gradually lessened his legal obligations, closing his law practice over a year after his first novel, in 1899. Published in 1902, his third novel, Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall, another historical romance, this time set in Elizabethan times, rivaled the success of his first. Once again, the novel was adapted for the theater by Paul Kester, and saw a film release in 1924 starring Mary Pickford.
Major continued to write and publish several additional novels, to varying degrees of success, as well as a number of children's adventure stories, most set in and around his native state of Indiana. Charles Major died of liver cancer on February 13, 1913, at his home in Shelbyville, Indiana.
Wikipedia
Born to an upper-middle class Indianapolis family, Major developed in interest in both law and English history at an early age and attended the University of Michigan from 1872 through 1875, being admitted to the Indiana bar association in 1877. Shortly thereafter he opened his own law practice, which launched a short political career, culminating in a year-long term in the Indiana state legislature.
Writing remained an interest of Major, and in 1898, he published his first novel, When Knighthood Was in Flower. The novel about England during the reign of King Henry VIII was an exhaustively researched historical romance, and became enormously popular, holding a place on the New York Times bestselling list for nearly three years. The novel was adapted into a popular Broadway play by Paul Kester in 1901, premiering at the Criterion Theatre that year. The novel also launched relatively successful film adaptations in 1908 and 1922.
With a successful writing career, Major gradually lessened his legal obligations, closing his law practice over a year after his first novel, in 1899. Published in 1902, his third novel, Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall, another historical romance, this time set in Elizabethan times, rivaled the success of his first. Once again, the novel was adapted for the theater by Paul Kester, and saw a film release in 1924 starring Mary Pickford.
Major continued to write and publish several additional novels, to varying degrees of success, as well as a number of children's adventure stories, most set in and around his native state of Indiana. Charles Major died of liver cancer on February 13, 1913, at his home in Shelbyville, Indiana.
Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 18, 2017
From reading the book description and seeing the historic-looking cover, I was concerned the book might be dull. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The stories (that the main character recounts throughout the book) were touching, clean, relaxing, and generally just felt good. It was fun to hear of the main character's adventures in the wild, and left several stories hanging enough that it left me, as well as the kids to which he told the stories, coming back for more. It didn't require much concentration to follow the plot, and when I came back after not reading it for a bit, it was easy to pick up where I left off, but even if I didn't recall what happened in the previous story, many of the stories proved enjoyable on their own.
August 8, 2020
Many people who grew up in Shelbyville, Indiana, know the books ‘The Bears of Blue River’ and ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’. Uncle Tom Andy Bill is a continuation of Uncle Tom’s stories. Sweet ending with little Nab.
August 4, 2007
The story is set in early pioneer days in the Indiana/Ohio area before all the land was cleared for farming. The main character, Thomas Andrew William Addison, tells the story of his adventurous youth to his foster children over several evenings in front of the fireplace. The book was originally published in 1908 and gives a good feel for life before paved roads, TV, and Walmart. Tom Andy Bill "is the quintessential hero of early twentieth-century boy's lore of action and suspense." Warning: Don't read if hunting/trapping/killing of animals makes you too squeamish.
July 30, 2013
My original copy of this was an old, battered book without a cover. I read it at least three times as a boy and then sent away for a copy as an adult after my original was lost. I was pleasantly surprised to find it on Goodreads as I thought it was my own little secret. It has everything a young boy could ask for in a book; adventure, indians, caves, and treasure. An excellent view of the romance of the pioneer days. Great read!
February 5, 2015
Short stories about his boyhood adventures in the wilds of Indiana, as told by Uncle Tom to his nieces and nephews as they are gathered around the fire in the evenings. The stories read very much like Mark Twain's works.
February 5, 2015
Short stories about his boyhood adventures in the wilds of Indiana, as told by Uncle Tom to his nieces and nephews as they are gathered around the fire in the evenings. The stories read very much like Mark Twain's works.
July 6, 2009
Wonderful adventure. My third grade teach read this and Bears of Blue River to the class and I have read it a few time hence.
September 8, 2013
it was really cool to read a book that my grandfather read to my mother when she was a little girl. I think any child who loves adventure and Daniel Boone type stories will enjoy this book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews