The Eskdale Herd-boy: A Scottish Tale for the Instruction and Amusement of Young People: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Eskdale Herd-boy: A Scottish Tale for the Instruction and Amusement of Young People: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Eskdale Herd-boy: A Scottish Tale for the Instruction and Amusement of Young People is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Blackford, Mrs. (Martha) (1775–1846).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Eskdale Herd-boy" by Mrs. Blackford is a fictional tale aimed at young readers, written in the early 19th century. The book is set in picturesque Dumfriesshire, Scotland, revolving around the lives of John Telfer, an orphaned herd-boy, and Helen, the daughter of the local minister, Mr. Martin. It explores themes of integrity, perseverance, and the moral lessons imparted through their experiences in a close-knit community. At the start of the narrative, we are introduced to John Telfer, who has recently lost his parents and is taken in by Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin, recognizing John's grief and potential, offers him the opportunity to work as a herd-boy for a local farmer while also committing to teaching him to read. John's journey begins with his initial struggle against sadness and loneliness, but it gradually shifts to hope as he aims to better his life through education and hard work. Concurrently, Helen Martin is learning to ride her pony and is encouraged by her mother to persevere; her character serves as a counterpoint to John’s, with themes of duty and obedience. The opening portion establishes a rich setting and introduces readers to the core characters and their circumstances, hinting at the adventures and lessons that await them.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Eskdale Herd-boy: A Scottish Tale for the Instruction and Amusement of Young People
- Author credits: Blackford, Mrs. (Martha) (1775–1846)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
- Scotland -- Juvenile fiction
- Shepherds -- Scotland -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


