Author Description

The Call of the Hills was originally penned by Rev. Marshall Benjamin Van Leer during or after teaching at the Spring Creek or Long Ridge School in Franklin County, Missouri in 1900-1901. It was first published in 1913. It is a novel based on people and places in that community and some of the events actually took place that year such as the school burning. Many parallels have been drawn between this story and Shepherd of the Hills. Van Leer has done an excellent job of reproducing the dialect of the era. Glen and Sue Blesi have added local history and photographs in addition to photographs and biographical information on VanLeer. VanLeer was born at Jeffriesburg, Mo, grew up in St. Clair where he preached his first sermon, and went on to pastor churches in five states.