The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come

The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come is a 1903 Kentucky Civil War novel by John Fox Jr. The novel tells the rags-to-respectability tale of orphan Chad Buford. It was the first novel to sell a million copies in the US. Chad is a confused young man growing up in 1860s Kentucky. Sheltered from his brutal guardian by a friendly schoolmaster, he learns to love the tiny village of Kingdom Come and has no inclination of leaving. But when the American Civil War breaks out, he finds himself at odds with most of his friends by joining the Union Army. His wartime experiences force Chad to grow up in a hurry, and he returns to Kingdom Come with a whole new outlook on his future existence.