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Earl Hamner: From Walton's Mountain to Tomorrow

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Jim Person, who has written three books and over one hundred articles, has a gift when it comes to analyzing, comparing, and critiquing works of literature. In this book he is also gifted with his subject, Earl Hamner. Largely because he is such a humble man, most people do not know much about Earl's career or the extent of his works. If his name sounds familiar, it is because it appears in the opening credits of one of the most beloved series ever on television, The Waltons. Not only was Earl the creator and one of the principal writers of the show based on his life growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the Great Depression, it was his distinctive voice that opened and closed the show. But The Waltons was a mid-career project; you will be surprised to learn in this book how much Earl has done before and after it, across genres. After keeping a journal while he was growing up, he started his career writing radio scripts, has penned nine books, wrote eight Twilight Zone scripts, was the creator of another long-running series Falcon Crest, and was the screenwriter for the animated film Charlotte's Web. In addition, Earl produced or, according to Person, was the "guiding hand" for a number of other series and specials including Brewster Place, Snowy River: The McGregor Saga, and a PBS presentation called The Ponder Heart.

As Person describes in this critical biography, much of Earl's work is influenced by his upbringing. Throughout Earl Hamner's award-winning career, he has maintained his personal integrity, an air of gentility, and even that distinctive Virginia Scotch-Irish accent. But despite his conservative roots, he embraces all aspects of life. He has spent most of his life on the west coast, has traveled extensively, and clearly loves people. He is a sensitive writer who is not afraid to write heartwarming and inspiring stories from which, although he maintains that it has never been his intent to instill lessons, you will learn none-the-less.

Throughout the writing of this biography, Jim Person and Earl Hamner apparently became fast friends, and it's easy to see why. Earl was amazed that Jim was able to capture the essence of him so easily but, in my opinion, it's because the two men are so much alike. At this point I must confess that I am friends with both of them and it's easy to see why they "get" each other. Both are great writers but, more than that, they are great guys: fun-loving, hard-working, principled, and above all, humble.

Cumberland House did an outstanding job putting the book together with photos of Earl, his childhood home, and his beloved mountains on the cover, and many never-before-seen photos sprinkled throughout the book. This is a great read. If you are not already familiar with Earl's works, Earl Hamner: From Walton's Mountain to Tomorrow will make you want to investigate them, and to check out more of Jim Person's writings as well.

Earl Hamner,Jr. is as familiar to some of us as our own father, or grandfather.He has been a part of our lives for as much as the last thirty or so years,since his book "The Homecoming" aired as a made for tv Christmas movie,and the long running series,"The Waltons" took over our living rooms every Thursday night.
The series was based on Mr. Hamner's life growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the depression,and the stories related to many of us,having touched on our families and their histories,stories that were told to us by our parents and grandparents,and some that lived through those times themselves.
Earl had a special gift in his ability to tie that world in with ours,reminding us even still today the meaning of family.He could even make those without a family feel like they were part of one.
Mr. Person's book not only presents a great tribute to a great man, but his writing also has the ability to make the reader feel as though they are reading about one of thier own family,but with some surprises along the way.If I had only one comment about the book it would be that I only wish there were more pages to read in it! Great job,Mr.Person!

This book provides excellant insight on Earl Hamner. My wife and I belong to the International Walton's Fan Club and have meet Earl several times at Walton Reunions. Mr. Hamner is a talented writter and a wonderful person.

Having been a fan of The Waltons during the 1970s, I was interested in learning about the shows creator Mr. Hamner. The biography by Mr. Person gives Mr. Hamners life and work a detailed and interesting treatment without being academic.

The book portrays Mr. Hamner as a unique and gifted individual who took his rural upbringing and used it as the basis for a highly successful tv series. Other parts of the book were also interesting and portrayed the writer as a well rounded person with wide ranging interests.

Mention 'Earl Hamner' and savvy book readers will instantly recognize his name as the creator of the beloved Waltons, which became a hit TV show - but there's more to his life than Walton's Mountain, as Earl Hamner: From Walton's Mountain To Tomorrow reveals. Hamner was raised in small town Virginia and discovered writing at a young age, becoming a published writer at the age of six. He did much more than just The Waltons: he produced eight scripts for The Twilight Zone, did the screenplay for Charlotte's Web, and was loved and respected for his talents. A fine account of his lively career and many literary contributions evolves.

Earl Hamner is genious, intelligent, heartfelt, honest man. He created the best show on t.v., "The Waltons." This books opens a lot of interesting history of his career and family. The author spends too much time indulging other writers works, and trying to compare them to Earl Hamner. I wish Earl was the author of his bio. You will discover his works from Charlotte's Web, Falcon Crest, Snowy River, Spencer's Mountain, The Homecoming,and of course, The Waltons.
Sections of the book gets very boring, and turns away from Earl's life. The rest of the book is well written. We need more writers & producers like Earl Hamner.
God Bless The Waltons!

It was the best bio I have ever read.It made me feel like I was part of the Hamner family.When I watched the waltons as a kid I did not know it was based on a real family. Now when I watch the Waltons it has a whole new meaning

This is a wonderfully written book and I so enjoyed reading about the creator of The Waltons.I could see our family in his as so many people have said in the past.I was busy raising my family and was not aware of the publishcation of this book until recently.In reading this book I could just see in my minds eye this family struggling during the time and aways supporting each other in everything.I am planning to send this along to my brother who also enjoys this large familys adventures through those trying years.
Lillian

Although I have been extremely fond of the Walton's since The Homecoming in 1971, it had never occurred to me to think of Earl Hamner as a prominent Southern writer in the way that I think of Robert Penn Warren, Thomas Wolfe, Eudora Welty and others. Perhaps it was because he wrote for television. This book changed that notion. James Person goes behind the scenes and gives a compelling interpretation of all of Hamner's writings, how his work evolved, and how he was able to adapt artistic ideas to highly successful prime time television--from the Twilight Zone to the Walton's to Falcon Crest. Discussions of Hamner as a prominent Southern writer and a pillar of American culture are long overdue, and many thanks to James Person for beginning such a conversation.

This was a very good read. I am still an avid fan of the Waltons and reading about the man who created them was wonderful. It makes me homesick for another time and place. If only we could get back to the basics of a time like when the stories took place what a different world we might have, Earl Hamner appreciated what he had and his memories are to be shared with us all.