When I was a boy my father, who was born in 1914, gave me his very worn copy of this book that he had as a child. I always thought that it was a true story and I'm still not certain that it wasn't. The book gives a unique view of life over 150 yrs. ago as seen through the eyes of a young boy. I loved this book from the first time that I read it and have reread it numerous times over the years. It's been a long while since I last read it so I think that after I write this I shall start to read it again. I hope that anyone who gets this book enjoys it as much as I have. I highly recommend it.