Country Editor ― Henry Beetle Hough And the Vineyard Gazette

This is the first biography of Henry Beetle Hough whose life is intertwined with the story of the weekly newspaper, the Vineyard Gazette, which he and his wife Betty received as a wedding present from Henry's father. This remarkable multifaceted story brings the rich history of Martha's Vineyard to life as well as its natural beauty and the decades-long battle to preserve it that is still ongoing. This is a classic tale of the life of a small-town newspaper in a special place that is beset by the pressures of growth and development. In addition to serving as the Gazette's owner and editor for six decades, Hough was the author of 24 books or fiction and nonfiction, including the best-selling Country Editor, published in 1940 and reprinted in 1974, which was an inspiration to young journalists for decades. This book is a celebration of an extraordinary life well-lived and a tribute to the difference that country journalists can make in the life of their community.

Phyllis Meras is a contributing editor and a former managing editor of the Vineyard Gazette. She was also on the staff of the New York Times Travel Section and was the travel editor of the Providence Journal for seventeen years. She is the author of thirteen books, including First Spring: A Martha's Vineyard Journal, A Yankee Way With Wood, and guides to Martha's Vineyard and Rhode Island. She is a lifelong seasonal resident of Martha's Vineyard and has been a year-round resident since 1970.