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  • The Homecoming

  • The Spencer's Mountain Series, Book 2
  • By: Earl Hamner
  • Narrated by: Milton Bagby
  • Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (41 ratings)

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The Homecoming cover art

The Homecoming

By: Earl Hamner
Narrated by: Milton Bagby
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Publisher's Summary

When Clay-Boy’s father fails to return home on Christmas Eve, Clay-Boy takes to the snowy Virginia hills in search of him, leaving his worried family to keep watch at the homestead. Along the way, he meets an irate deer, a threatening county sheriff, a congregation of African American churchgoers, and two elderly women who happen to be bootleggers. The story of Clay-Boy’s search for his father is told with warmth and intensity. 

Along with its prequel, Spencer’s MountainThe Homecoming was the inspiration for the popular television show The Waltons, which starred Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, and Michael Learned and ran for nine years between 1972 and 1981. More than 50 years after its publication, this novel still has the power to move and inspire. 

©1973 by McCalls Publishing, renewed 2001 by Earl Hamner (P)2021 by Blackstone Publishing

What listeners say about The Homecoming

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyable

Didn't carry on from book one. The homecoming was of another character but still enjoyed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Christmas 1933

Book 2 Spencer's Mountain series. This story happens before book 1 which was a little confusing but a great short episode

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful!!!

This is said to be the basis for the TV show The Waltons. Its utterly delightful and is a fascinating snapshot of the depression era when family ...(large families) was everything but ...they had to be fed. And it was a struggle. Many families in the appalacians tragically died from starvation at this time. So we have a situation of absentee fathers having to work in different places. Theres mention of Roosevelt's New Deal aimed at poverty relief.
The focus on black people (called Negroes then😑) in this novella...was insightful especially as it was written in the 1970s.
Enjoyed it sooo much! Thank you Audible!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Lovely book

Really enjoyed reading this story. Well worth your time. Can’t Wait to read the next volume.

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