" The church and its problems were weighing on the author and
affecting his life no less than when he was in the ministry and it was
only natural that he should give to the world "a picture that is true
to the four corners of the earth." Every incident in the story has its
counterpart in real life and, with but few exceptions, came under the
author's personal observation. He did not get the real pleasure out
of writing "The Calling of Dan Matthews" that he did the story which
preceded it. But he could not, try as he would, escape it.
The publication of "The Calling of Dan Matthews" in the fall of 1909 was
just two years after the publication of "The Shepherd of the Hills."
"The Winning of Barbara Worth" required more time and effort in the
collecting of material than any book the author had written, but
probably gave him, at least, as much pleasure. He is very careful with
regard to descriptive detail, and even while writing "The Calling of Dan
Matthews" he was making a study of the desert and this great reclamation
project. Before sending his manuscript for publication he had it checked
over by the best engineers on the Pacific coast for inaccuracies in any
of his descriptions that involved engineering or reclamation problems.
"The Winning of Barbara Worth" bears the distinction, without doubt,
of being the only book ever published that called its publisher and
illustrator from a distance of two and three thousand miles, into the
heart of a great desert, for a consultation with its author.
Pages:
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268