The National Grange has released "The Granger Movement in New England" as an e-book available through Amazon's Kindle service.

The 1960 book, a thesis written by then-Harvard student Laurence Michael Hager, explores the impact of the Grange in New England while staying insightful and interesting, National Grange President Ed Luttrell said.

"This is a fascinating history and what is more exciting is that it has never before been available to the public," National Grange President Ed Luttrell said in a press release.

Hager was thorough in his research and writing and generous in his willingness to allow the Grange the publishing rights, he said.

The digital version is 64 pages, including index, prologue and footnotes, and is available for $4.99.

The book paints a picture of the bleak conditions existing in the rural areas of New England and how the Grange was able to improve on those conditions, Luttrell said.

The National Grange has signed a 90-day exclusivity deal for e-book with Amazon. The e-book will be offered through Barnes and Noble's Nook after the exclusivity deal expires.

This is the seventh e-book from the National Grange.

-- Carol Ryan Dumas