George in Camp; or, Life on the Plains

"George in Camp: or, Life on the Plains" by Harry Castlemon is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows the experiences of George Ackerman, a 15-year-old boy navigating life on a Texas ranch after the death of his wealthy father. Through the lens of George's struggles with family dynamics and societal perceptions, the book explores themes of belonging, hardship, and resilience in the rugged frontier life. At the start of the narrative, we meet George, who finds himself feeling isolated and out of place since his Uncle John and cousin Ned moved in after his father’s death, taking over the ranch. George's frustration grows as they impose city manners and lifestyle, leading the locals to resent them and subsequently, him. The complex interplay of familial tension, societal rejection, and George's longing for connection set the stage for his upcoming adventures amidst the challenges of ranch life and potentially hostile neighbors. As he grapples with loneliness and the responsibilities of running a ranch, readers can anticipate a journey of personal growth and the quest for identity in a rapidly changing environment. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Austin Fosdick, better known by his nom de plume Harry Castlemon, was a prolific writer of juvenile stories and novels, intended mainly for boys. He was born in Randolph, New York, and received a high school diploma from Central High School in Buffalo, New York. He served in the Union Navy from 1862 to 1865, during the American Civil War, acting as the receiver and superintendent of coal for the Mississippi River Squadron. Fosdick had begun to write as a teenager, and drew on his experiences serving in the Navy in such early novels as Frank on a Gunboat (1864) and Frank on the Lower Mississippi (1867). He soon became the most-read author for boys in the post-Civil War era, the golden age of children's literature.