Estes has collected, edited, and arranged the poems and letters saved by her grandmother and written by her great-grandfather, John Barrons Richards. He was born in Wales in 1867, and after graduating from the fourth grade and getting a job in a mine, he moved with his family to America in 1881. He married in 1889, and the couple had three children. He worked in mines and as a minister and spent much of his free time, especially as he grew older and worked less, taking adult classes and furthering his interests in literature, among other pursuits. He wrote numerous poems over the years, and his letters to his children provide keen insight into not only his interests but also the American spirit during the years between the world wars. Most of the book contains his poems, clearly inspired by Thoreau and Emerson, while the last section has several of his letters.

This is an interesting collection for many reasons, but mostly due to it being such a great look into the mind of an immigrant to America who grabs the American dream and the ideals of the forefathers with both hands. Richards was hard-working and dedicated to his family and the idea of constant learning. His work is full of love for the natural world and the rugged West, as well as the growing American influence on the world stage during the time. The poems are well-written enough to keep the reader engaged, while the real treasure is the historical unfolding of this man’s life. Many of the themes he addresses are still contemporary. The literary value of the poems is competent, but perhaps the work’s greatest value is the intimate portrait of a proud American during a time of great change and innovation.

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