6" x 8.5", 267 page hardcover with dustjacket titled HARD SCRABBLE: OBSERVATIONS ON A PATCH OF LAND by John Graves/ Alfred A. Knopf, ISBN # 0-394-48386-3, First Edition, Copyright 1974/ In 1960, at the age of 40 and after many years wondering the globe, Texas-born writer John Graves bought a worn-out patch of land in the hills south of Fort Worth. It began as something of a retreat and became a life-long attachment. This book, published in 1974, is a humorously thoughtful description of how this new landowner becomes equally owned by the land he has settled on. Hard Scrabble is the name he gave to his ranch near Glen Rose, in Somervell County, Texas. It's in the northern part of the Hill Country. He describes the country and its history of Indians and cotton farmers in a colorful, relaxed, conversational tone, as if the reader was sitting with him at a fire. His compassion comes through on every page. It is not a gripping adventure story. It's a love story - his love of the wilderness.

The book is complete and in VERY GOOD condition with some overall wear mainly to the dustjacket which has some edge wear and is price clipped. On the front free endpaper, John Graves has flat signed his name.