The Story of Ab: A Tale of the Time of the Cave Man

"The Story of Ab: A Tale of the Time of the Cave Man" by Stanley Waterloo is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. The book focuses on the life of Ab, a young caveman, capturing the essence of prehistoric existence through his adventures and interactions within a stone-age community filled with challenges and milestones of personal growth. The opening of the novel introduces us to the young Ab, a lively toddler discovered in a grassy hollow near a river, uninhibited and in tune with his prehistoric surroundings. Ab’s mother, identified as a leader among the cave people, arrives just in time to rescue him from a potential threat, exemplifying the dangers of their time. As Ab grows, we learn about his family's structure, adventures with his new friend Oak, and the various lessons he learns about survival in a world filled with both ferocious wild beasts and the daily responsibilities of cave life. The beginning of the story sets the stage for Ab's development from a playful child to a budding young man navigating the intricacies of life among the cave dwellers, foreshadowing future encounters with danger and the relationships that will shape his journey. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Stanley Waterloo (1846–1913) was an American newspaperman, editor, newspaper owner, and author of both non-fiction and fiction. He was born in St. Clair County, Michigan in 1846 and died in Chicago, Illinois in 1913. He married Anna Charlotte Kitton on February 11, 1874. Waterloo attended the University of Michigan. One source says he graduated in 1869, but another says he did not. Waterloo secured an appointment to West Point, but was not able to attend, because he suffered an injury. One account was that he had been kicked by a horse he was trying to break. Having grown up in the countryside, Waterloo was fond of the outdoors and was highly regarded for his descriptions of nature. He was, among other things, a Game Warden for Illinois.