The Shepherd of the Hills

by Harold Bell Wright

"The Shepherd of the Hills" by Harold Bell Wright is a novel written in 1907. Set in the Ozark Mountains, it tells the story of Dad Howitt, a mysterious elderly man who escapes city life to live among mountain people. Known as "The Shepherd of the Hills," he befriends the Matthews family while harboring secrets about his tragic past—including connections to their own family history. As hidden identities and old betrayals surface, the story explores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the healing power of faith in a close-knit rural community.