The Red Scarf

RedScarfCover

THE RED SCARF is a coming-of-age story set in Southern Arkansas during World War II. First-time author Richard Mason takes readers back to 1944 through the misadventures of the twelve-year-old protagonist, Richard.

This often humorous, sometimes tender, novel offers the perceptions of a young boy and the reality of a simple life where his entertainment was whatever he could dream up. It was a time when imagination and nature created endless adventures as demonstrated by Richard’s encounters with skunks, bobcats, robbers and cast of eccentric characters, all in his quest to buy a red scarf for the prettiest girl in school.

Richard and his best friend, John Clayton, share a special friendship with Uncle Hugh, an elderly man and descendant of slaves, who lives alone and is slowly losing his vision. Their mutual respect leads to a surprising and memorable finale on Christmas Eve that captures the essence of the season.

Richard Mason is a geologist, an avid antique map collector, and former president of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation. As a young boy he lived on a small farm in South Arkansas, where his interaction with life in the woods, swamps, and with some extremely fascinating people made for a stimulating childhood.