Biography
Joseph Alexander Altsheler (1862-1919), American author of popular juvenile historical fiction, born in Three Springs, Kentucky.
After several years as a reporter, Joseph A. Altsheler became editor of the old New York World’s tri-weekly magazine edition. It was there that he began to write his first stories for boys, when he was unable to find satisfactory stories for the magazine elsewhere. Thus began a long and distinguished career as a juvenile writer. Altsheler had a natural gift for writing young people’s stories. His vivid, adventurous tales were admired for their expert characterization, wholesomeness, fresh humor, and authentic historical background. Most of his popular stories may be found in one of six famous series: The Young Trailers Series, The French and Indian War Series, The Civil War Series, The Great West Series, The Texas Series, and The First World War Series.
In a poll of libraries some years ago, Altsheler was found to be the most popular boy’s writer in America. Boys – and their sisters – enjoy his stirring tales, which are both entertaining and instructive, and Altsheler remains a favorite with every generation of young people.
Books by Joseph A. Altsheler
The Young Trailers Series
- The Young Trailers, a story of early Kentucky (1907)
- The Forest Runners, a story of the great war trail in early Kentucky (1908)
- The Keepers of the Trail, a story of the great woods (1916)
- The Eyes of the Woods, a story of the ancient wilderness (1917)
- The Free Rangers, a story of the early days along the Mississippi (1909)
- The Riflemen of the Ohio, a story of early days along “the beautiful river” (1910)
- The Scouts of the Valley, a story of Wyoming and the Chemung (1911)
- The Border Watch, a story of the great chief’s last stand (1912)
The French and Indian War Series
- The Lords of the Wild, a story of the old New York border (1919)
- The Hunters of the Hills, a story of the great French and Indian war (1916)
- The Shadow of the North, a story of old New York and a lost campaign (1917)
- The Sun of Quebec, a story of a great crisis (1919)
- The Rulers of the Lakes, a story of George and Champlain (1917)
- The Masters of the Peaks, a story of the great north woods (1918)
The Civil War Series
- The Guns of Bull Run, a story of the civil war’s eve (1914)
- The Guns of Shiloh, a story of the great western campaign (1914)
- The Scouts of Stonewall, the story of the great valley campaign (1914)
- The Sword of Antietam, a story of the nation’s crisis (1914)
- The Star of Gettysburg, a story of southern high tide (1915)
- The Rock of Chickamauga, a story of the western crisis (1915)
- The Shades of the Wilderness, a story of Lee’s great stand (1916)
- The Tree of Appomattox, a story of the civil war’s close (1916)
The Texan Series
- The Texan Star, the story of a great fight for liberty (1912)
- The Texan Scouts, the story of the Alamo and Goliad (1913)
- The Texan Triumph, a romance of the San Jacinto campaign (1913)
The Great West Series
- The Great Sioux Trail, a story of mountain and plain (1918)
- The Lost Hunters, a story of wild man and great beasts (1918)
The World War I Series
- The Guns of Europe (1915)
- The Hosts of the Air, the story of a quest in the Great War (1915)
- The Forest of Swords, a story of Paris and the Marne (1915)
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