The Harvester

Gene Stratton-Porter is an excellent author. His books hold your interest and take you to a time where stress is far less an issue. His characters are fully developed and richly represented. An excellen book for peaceful reading.

The Harvester is a story that incorporates nature, love and the impact of choices. The descriptive use of growth in nature, the cycle of life and the best character qualities of human nature are unparalled in my reading experience. It is a book that made me feel that good is still in our world.

If there is a more beautiful story anywhere than The Harvester, I have yet to find it. This early 20th century classic is as fresh and meaningful today as it was close to a century ago. It speaks of life lived purely and respectfully, of the truest form of love any mortal ever knew, and describes our beautiful America before greed and carelessness trashed her splendor.

David Langston is the Harvester, the Medicine Man. At age 26 he lives a solitary life with only his dog and horse to keep him company. He cultivates and harvests medicinal herbs and flowers on an acreage he has carefully developed. Here, in nature's pristine beauty and a world of thriving birds and wildlife, David dreams of someday finding a woman who will love him truly and passionately. He sees his Dream Girl in a vision and sets out with his typical persistence to find her. So certain is he that this lovely vision will become reality, he adds onto his small home and creates furniture lovingly by hand to meet her every comfort.

Ruth Jameson is ill in body, mind and spirit, a thin pale wraith of a girl. But to David Langston she is beauty personified. Her past has all but killed her, but David has no doubts. He loves her and will sacrifice anything and everything to win her. But first she must be made whole through pure food and nature's medicine, both laced generously with a decent man's devotion. He marries the girl to save her from cruelty and squallor, and promises to put male desire on hold until she can come to him freely. In his heart of hearts, he knows there is a chance she will never love him but he's willing to face that heartbreak if only she can be well again.

I've been reading The Harvester at intervals since I was 12 years old. But this is not a story for children. It has adult themes and dialog. The purity of prose and wonderful descriptions of America, the information about natural healing, and a love story that is unsurpassed make this book an amazing read today - as it was when first written. I give this book my most entusiastic recommendation.

A really great book. I loved all the characters and found them to be very believable. I think the author must have lived with folks just like these to be able to see into them so well. Highly recommend this one. I'm going to follow this author some more!

This romance novel in my mother's girlhood collection was the first novel I ever read. The Harvester, a hermit who lives alone and supports himself by growing, harvesting and drying medicinal herbs, has vision of a wonderful woman. He sets out in search of her among the city streets by knocking on doors and selling flowers. He finds his girl, but she is traumatized and ill. The Harvester builds a home for her and establishes a relationship only to have her become so ill she almost dies. How he wins both her life and love make this story one you will never forget! If only Hollywood knew, we could have an academy award if this were ever made into a movie - it's a treasure!

I found this old first edition book in my library and decided to read it. What a joy! I didn't want it to end and know I will read it over and over again! This is a must share with anyone who appreciates truth, beauty, honesty and love. How I wish I lived in GSP's world....a warm, lovely, peaceful feeling you'll carry with you for a long time after you finish the book.

This is an old-fashioned tale of true love, purity, hard work and regeneration through oneness with nature. It's a beautiful story which I read every time I get stuck in bed sick. I give it to friends who get sick. Just reading it is healing. I hope you enjoy it.

I just bought (and read) this book from an antique dealer. I think it's a 1st edition. the publish date was 1911.
Loved the book, including how they "wrote" back then to describe "relationships".

Think I'm going to start reading more "old time" books like this! Karen Deis

This was my grandmother's favorite book of all time,and she had read thousands of books. Because of that, I used this book for my book club before I had even read it. All of the 12 people that read it really liked it. It does take a while to get into, but it is well worth it! I noticed the plants around me more and it gave me the desire to raise my boys to be like the Harvester. The Harvester is a charector that we could all try to be more like, and the world would definetly be a better place!