The Young Wild-Fowlers

"The Young Wild-Fowlers" by Harry Castlemon is a novel written in the late 19th century. This story follows a group of boys, particularly Don Gordon, as they embark on duck hunting adventures in Maryland while uncovering the conflicts between sport hunters and poachers. The backdrop of the narrative includes the natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay and the thrilling dynamics of their youthful escapades. At the start of the story, Don Gordon and his friends are excitedly staying at Egan's home, eager to hunt waterfowl during the prime season. They share tales of hunting while absorbing the vibrant atmosphere of the bay, aware of the poaching activities that threaten their sport. The dialogue unfolds around their preparations and the local threat posed by market shooters, shedding light on their camaraderie and the challenges they face. The opening sets the tone for a coming-of-age story rich with adventure, friendship, and the ethics of hunting. (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.