Noel Bertram Gerson (1913-1988) was an American author who wrote 325 books, including several best sellers, among them two screenplay novelizations penned under the pseudonym Samuel Edwards, ''

The Naked Maja ''The Naked Maja'' is a 1958 Italian-American co-production made by S.G.C., Titanus, and United Artists. This historical film recounting of the romance between the painter Francisco Goya and the Duchess of Alba was directed by Henry Koster, an ...

'', and ''

55 Days at Peking ''55 Days at Peking'' is a 1963 American epic historical war film dramatizing the siege of the foreign legations' compounds in Peking (now known as Beijing) during the Boxer Rebellion, which took place in China from 1899 to 1901. It was produc ...

''. Peacock, Scott, Senior Editor (2000), ''Gales Contemporary Authors, Volume 82'' , pp. 143-146 Aside from "Samuel Edwards", which would seem to have been his dedicated by-line for tie-in work, Gerson used the following nine pseudonyms in addition to his own name: Anne Marie Burgess; Michael Burgess; Nicholas Gorham; Paul Lewis; Leon Phillips; Donald Clayton Porter; Dana Fuller Ross; Philip Vail; and Carter A. Vaughan.Hawk, Pat (1995), ''Hawk's Author's Pseudonyms II'' , p. 225

Life

He was the son of Sam Gerson, who directed the Shubert theaters in Chicago. Gerson attended the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...

, and served as the campus correspondent for the ''

Chicago Herald-Examiner The ''Chicago American'' was an afternoon newspaper published in Chicago, under various names until its dissolution in 1974. History The paper's first edition came out on July 4, 1900, as '' Hearst's Chicago American''. It became the ''Morning ...

''. Following graduation, he became a reporter at the paper. He later joined Chicago-based WGN as a publicity writer, subsequently becoming its talent director and main scriptwriter. After his World War II military experience in Army intelligence, he began writing TV scripts before beginning his career as an author in 1950. He and his wife Marilyn had a son and three daughters.

Literary focus

Gerson's primary focus was on historical novels, mostly stand-alone, with American history receiving considerable attention. Of note, he wrote a number of historical novels about colonial America and also the United States in its formative years. Gerson also wrote a large number of biographies and

biographical novel The biographical novel is a genre of novel which provides a fictional account of a contemporary or historical person's life. Like other forms of biographical fiction, details are often trimmed or reimagined to meet the artistic needs of the fiction ...

s. These included several on U.S. presidents, such as Andrew Jackson, James Polk, and Theodore Roosevelt. Many of his biographic works also focused on notable women in history such as Empress Theodora of the Byzantine Empire; William the Conqueror's formidable wife, Matilda of Flanders; and Pocahantas. During the latter stages of his career, Gerson wrote two series of American historical novels having characters that continued through the series. Using the pen name Dana Fuller Ross, the first was the popular twenty-four book ''Wagons West'' series that began in 1978 and is currently being republished. The first four books in this series describe the initial wagon train to Oregon beginning in 1837. Beginning in 1979, Gerson initiated a second series called ''White Indian'' using the pen name of Donald Clayton Porter. Set in the late 1600s, it portrays the life of Renno, a child of settlers, who was raised by the Seneca to become a senior warrior.

Bibliography

Gerson was one of the most prolific writers of modern times, with over 150 books verifiably counted to his credit. His work can be divided into three major parts: standalone novels, including biographical ones; series novels, usually under a house pseudonym; and nonfiction. Besides his own name, he also wrote under several pen names.Burke, W.J. and Howe, Will D. (1972), ''American Authors and Books: 1640 to the Present Day'' , pp. 241-242 Fiction: * ''The Mohawk Ladder'' (aka ''Sword of Fortune'') (1951) * ''Savage Gentleman: A Novel of the French and Indian War'' (aka ''Savage Cavalier'') (1951) * ''The Cumberland Rifles'' (1952) * ''The Golden Eagle'' (1953) * ''The Impostor'' (1954) * ''Port Royal'' (1954) * ''The Forest Lord: A Romantic Adventure of 18th-Century Charleston'' (1955) * ''The Highwayman'' (1955) * ''The Egyptian Woman'' (1956) * ''When the Wind Blows'' (1956, repr 1965) * ''The Conqueror's Wife'' (as by Samuel Edwards, 1957) * ''Daughter of Eve'' (1958) * ''The Silver Lion'' (1958) * ''The Devil's Prize'' (as by Samuel Edwards, 1958) * ''The Invincibles'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1958) * ''The Charlatan'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1959, repr 1961) * ''Queen's Blade'' (as by Nicholas Gorham, 1959) * ''The Naked Maja'' (1959) * ''The Wilderness'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1959) * ''The Yankee From Tennessee'' (1960) * ''Daughter of Gascony'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1960) * ''The Devil's Bride'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1960) * ''The Nelson Touch'' (1960) * ''The Yankee Brig'' (1960) * ''The Gentle Fury'' (1961) * ''Valley Forge'' (1961) * ''The White Plume'' (1961) * ''The Emperor Ladies'' (1962) * ''The Hittite'' (1962) * ''The Land is Bright'' (1962) * ''The Yankee Brig'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1962) * ''Master of Castile'' (as by Samuel Edwards, 1962) * ''Scoundrels' Brigade'' (1962) * ''The White Plume'' (as by Samuel Edwards, 1962) * ''The Golden Lyre'' (1963) * ''The Trojan'' (1963) * ''The Girl Market'' (as by Ann Marie & Michael Burgess, 1963) * ''The Yankee Rascals'' (1963) * ''55 Days in Peking'' (novelization of the film, as by Samuel Edwards, 1963) * ''Branded Bride'' (1963) * ''The Twisted Saber: A Biographical Novel of

Benedict Arnold Benedict Arnold ( Brandt (1994), p. 4June 14, 1801) was an American military officer who served during the Revolutionary War. He fought with distinction for the American Continental Army and rose to the rank of major general before defect ...

'' (as by Philip Vail, 1963) * ''Old Hickory: A Biographical Novel of

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was an American lawyer, planter, general, and statesman who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, he gained fame as ...

'' (1964) * ''Mister'' (1964) * ''Dragon Cove'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1964, repr 1979) * ''The Yankee Rascals'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1964) * ''The Sea Panther'' (as by Philip Vail, 1964) * ''The Men in Her Life: A Contemporary Novel'' (as by Nicholas Gorham, 1965) * ''The Slender Reed: A Biographical Novel of James Knox Polk'' (1965) * ''Yankee Doodle Dandy: A Biographical Novel of

John Hancock John Hancock ( – October 8, 1793) was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the ...

'' (1965) * ''Roanoke Warrior'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1965) * ''Give Me Liberty'' (1966) * ''Mr. Madison's War'' (1966) * ''Fortress Fury'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1966, repr 1981) * ''The Anthem'' (1967) * ''I'll Storm Hell'' (1967) * ''The Silver Saber'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1967) * ''

Sam Houston Samuel Houston (, ; March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was an American general and statesman who played an important role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas and was one of the first two i ...

: A Biographical Novel'' (1968) * ''Split Bamboo'' (as by Leon Phillips, 1968) * ''The River's Devil'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1968) * ''Jefferson Square'' (1968) * ''The Golden Ghetto'' (1969) * ''The Seneca Hostage'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1969) * ''Theodora'' (1969) Historical novel about the life of

Empress Theodora Theodora is a given name of Greek origin, meaning "God's gift". Theodora may also refer to: Historical figures known as Theodora Byzantine empresses * Theodora (wife of Justinian I) ( 500 – 548), saint by the Orthodox Church * Theodora of ...

* ''Clear for Action!'' (1970) * ''The Crusader: A Novel on the Life of

Margaret Sanger Margaret Higgins Sanger (born Margaret Louise Higgins; September 14, 1879September 6, 1966), also known as Margaret Sanger Slee, was an American birth control activist, sex educator, writer, and nurse. Sanger popularized the term "birth control ...

'' (1970) * ''The Divine Mistress'' (1970) * ''TR: A Biographical Novel About

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

'' (1970) * ''Warhead'' (1970) * ''Island in the Wind'' (1971) * ''Talk Show'' (1971) * ''Mirror, Mirror'' (1971) * ''Double Vision'' (1972) * ''Temptation to Steal'' (1972) * ''State Trooper'' (1973) * ''The Exploiters'' (as by Samuel Edwards, 1974) * ''All That Glitters'' (as by Samuel Edwards, 1975) * ''The Caves of Guernica'' (as by Samuel Edwards, 1975) * ''The Swamp Fox:

Francis Marion Brigadier-General Francis Marion ( 1732 – February 27, 1795), also known as the Swamp Fox, was an American military officer, planter and politician who served during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. During the Ameri ...

'' (1975) * ''Neptune'' (as by Samuel Edwards, 1976) * ''Special Agent'' (1976) * ''Liner: A Novel About a Great Ship'' (1977) * ''The Smugglers'' (1977) * ''The River Devils'' (as by Carter A. Vaughan, 1981) * ''Yankee'' (as by Dana Fuller Ross, 1982) * ''Pony Express'' (as by Donald Clayton Porter, 1983) * ''Yankee Rogue'' (as by Dana Fuller Ross, 1984) The books in the ''Wagons West'' series (all as by Dana Fuller Ross): * ''Independence!'' (1978) * ''Nebraska!'' (1979) * ''Wyoming!'' (1979) * ''Oregon!'' (1979) * ''California!'' (1980) * ''Texas!'' (1980) * ''Colorado!'' (1981) * ''Nevada!'' (1982) * ''Washington!'' (1982) * ''Montana!'' (1983) * ''Dakota!'' (1983) * ''Utah!'' (1984) * ''Idaho!'' (1984) * ''Missouri!'' (1985) * ''Mississippi!'' (1985) * ''Louisiana!'' (1985) * ''Tennessee!'' (1986) * ''Illinois!'' (1986) * ''Wisconsin!'' (1987) * ''Kentucky!'' (1987) * ''Arizona!'' (1987) * ''New Mexico!'' (1988) * ''Oklahoma!'' (1989) * ''Celebration!'' (1989) The first twelve books in the ''White Indian'' series (all as by Donald Clayton Porter): * ''White Indian'' (1979) * ''The Renegade'' (1980) * ''War Chief'' (1980) * ''The Sachem'' (1981) * ''Renno'' (1981) * ''Tomahawk'' (1982) * ''War Cry'' (1983) * ''Ambush'' (1983) * ''Seneca'' (1984) * ''Cherokee'' (1984) * ''Choctaw'' (1985) * ''Seminole'' (1986) Biographies and other nonfiction (juv=for juvenile audiences): * ''

Nathan Hale Nathan Hale (June 6, 1755 – September 22, 1776) was an American Patriot, soldier and spy for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He volunteered for an intelligence-gathering mission in New York City but was captured b ...

, Espionage Agent'' (juv, 1960) * ''Neither Sin Nor Shame'' (1961, as by Michael Burgess) * ''Food'' (juv, 1962) * ''Queen of Caprice: A Biography of Kristina of Sweden'' (as by Paul Lewis, 1962) * ''Lady of France: A Biography of Gabrielle D'estrees, Mistress of Henry the Great'' (as by Paul Lewis, 1963) * ''Belgium'' (1964) * ''

Kit Carson Christopher Houston Carson (December 24, 1809 – May 23, 1868) was an American frontiersman. He was a fur trapper, wilderness guide, Indian agent, and U.S. Army officer. He became a frontier legend in his own lifetime by biographies and n ...

: Folk Hero and Man'' (1964) * ''Queen of the Plaza: A Biography of

Adah Isaacs Menken Adah Isaacs Menken (June 15, 1835August 10, 1868) was an American actress, painter and poet, and was the highest earning actress of her time.Palmer, Pamela Lynn"Adah Isaacs Menken" ''Handbook of Texas Online,'' published by the Texas State Histor ...

'' (as by Paul Lewis, 1964) * ''Rock of Freedom: The Story of the Plymouth Colony'' (1964) * ''The Magnificent Adventure of Alexander Mackenzie'' (as by Philip Vail, 1964) * ''Sex and the Mature Man'' (w/Louis P. Saxe, 1964) * ''The Magnificent Adventures of

Henry Hudson Henry Hudson ( 1565 – disappeared 23 June 1611) was an English sea explorer and navigator during the early 17th century, best known for his explorations of present-day Canada and parts of the northeastern United States. In 1607 and 160 ...

'' (as by Philip Vail, 1965) * ''Light-Horse Harry: A Biography of Washington's Great Cavalryman, General Henry Lee'' (1966) * ''Last Wilderness: The Saga of America's Mountain Men'' (juv, 1966) * ''The Great Rogue: A Biography of

Captain John Smith John Smith (baptized 6 January 1580 – 21 June 1631) was an English soldier, explorer, colonial governor, Admiral of New England, and author. He played an important role in the establishment of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia, the first pe ...

'' (as by Paul Lewis, 1966, repr 1978 as The Glorious Scoundrel…:) * ''Survival: Jamestown: First English Colony in America'' (juv, 1967) * ''Barbary General: The Life of William H. Eaton'' (1968) * ''Franklin: America's Lost State'' (juv, 1968) * ''Yankee Admiral: A Biography of

David Dixon Porter David Dixon Porter (June 8, 1813 – February 13, 1891) was a United States Navy admiral and a member of one of the most distinguished families in the history of the U.S. Navy. Promoted as the second U.S. Navy officer ever to attain the rank o ...

'' (as by Paul Lewis, 1968) * ''The Fantastic Breed: Americans in

King George's War King George's War (1744–1748) is the name given to the military operations in North America that formed part of the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748). It was the third of the four French and Indian Wars. It took place primarily in t ...

'' (as by Leon Phillips, juv, 1968) * ''Passage to the West: Great Voyages of

'' (juv, 1969) * ''

James Monroe James Monroe ( ; April 28, 1758July 4, 1831) was an American statesman, lawyer, diplomat, and Founding Father who served as the fifth president of the United States from 1817 to 1825. A member of the Democratic-Republican Party, Monroe was ...

: Hero of America Diplomacy'' (juv, 1969) * ''The

Edict of Nantes The Edict of Nantes () was signed in April 1598 by King Henry IV and granted the Calvinist Protestants of France, also known as Huguenots, substantial rights in the nation, which was in essence completely Catholic. In the edict, Henry aimed pr ...

'' (juv, 1969) * ''P.J., My Friend'' (the story of his cat, 1969) * ''Free and Independent: The Confederation of the United States, 1781-1791'' (juv, 1970) * ''Because I Loved Him: The Life and Loves of

Lillie Langtry Emilie Charlotte, Lady de Bathe (née Le Breton, formerly Langtry; 13 October 1853 – 12 February 1929), known as Lillie (or Lily) Langtry and nicknamed "The Jersey Lily", was a British socialite, stage actress and producer. Born on the isl ...

'' (1971; repr 1972 as ''Lillie Langtry: A Biography'') * ''

Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romantic writer and politician. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote in a variety of genres and forms. He is considered to be one of the great ...

: A Tumultuous Life'' (1971, repr 1975 as ''…: A Biography'') * ''The Prodigal Genius: The Life and Times of Honore de Balzac'' (1972) * ''The Sunday Heroes'' (1972) * ''

George Sand Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil (; 1 July 1804 – 8 June 1876), best known by her pen name George Sand (), was a French novelist, memoirist and journalist. One of the most popular writers in Europe in her lifetime, bein ...

: A Biography of the First Modern, Liberated Woman'' (1972) * ''Daughter of Earth & Water: A Biography of

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (; ; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel ''Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' (1818), which is considered an early example of science fiction. She also e ...

'' (1973) * ''The Man Who Lost America: A Biography of Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne'' (as by Paul Lewis, 1973) * ''The Grand Incendiary: A Biography of

Samuel Adams Samuel Adams ( – October 2, 1803) was an American statesman, political philosopher, and a Founding Father of the United States. He was a politician in colonial Massachusetts, a leader of the movement that became the American Revolution, and ...

'' (as by Paul Lewis, 1973) * ''

Peter Paul Rubens Sir Peter Paul Rubens (; ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat from the Duchy of Brabant in the Southern Netherlands (modern-day Belgium). He is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque traditio ...

: A Biography of a Giant'' (1973) * ''First Lady of America: A Romanticized Biography of

Pocahontas Pocahontas (, ; born Amonute, known as Matoaka, 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman, belonging to the Powhatan people, notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of ...

'' (1973) * ''The Double Lives of

Francisco de Goya Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; ; 30 March 174616 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker. He is considered the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His paintings, drawings, and ...

'' (as by Samuel Edwards, 1973) * ''That Eaton Woman: In Defense of Peggy O'Neal Eaton'' (1974) * ''Sex and the Adult Woman'' (w/Ellen Birchall, 1974) * ''Rebel!: A Biography of

Tom Paine Thomas Paine (born Thomas Pain; – In the contemporary record as noted by Conway, Paine's birth date is given as January 29, 1736–37. Common practice was to use a dash or a slash to separate the old-style year from the new-style year. In th ...

'' (as by Samuel Edwards, 1974) * ''The Turbulent Life of

Aaron Burr Aaron Burr Jr. (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805. Burr's legacy is defined by his famous personal conflict with Alexand ...

: The Great American Rascal'' (as by Philip Vail, 1974) * ''The Velvet Glove: A Life of

Dolley Madison Dolley Todd Madison (née Payne; May 20, 1768 – July 12, 1849) was the wife of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. She was noted for holding Washington social functions in which she invited members of bo ...

'' (1976) * ''Sad Swashbuckler: The Life of William Walker'' (1976) * ''

Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Elisabeth Beecher Stowe (; June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896) was an American author and abolitionist. She came from the religious Beecher family and became best known for her novel ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' (1852), which depicts the harsh ...

: A Biography'' (1976) * ''Trelawny's World: A Biography of

Edward John Trelawny Edward John Trelawny (13 November 179213 August 1881) was a British biographer, novelist and adventurer who is best known for his friendship with the Romantic poets Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron. Trelawny was born in England to a family ...

'' (1977) * ''The Trial of

Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808July 31, 1875) was the 17th president of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. He assumed the presidency as he was vice president at the time of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Johnson was a Dem ...

'' (1977) * ''The Vidocq Dossier: The Story of the World's First Detective'' (as by Samuel Edwards, 1977, aka ''Vidocq: Biography of the World’s First Detective'') * ''Statue in Search of a Pedestal: A Biography of the

Marquis De Lafayette Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), known in the United States as Lafayette (, ), was a French aristocrat, freemason and military officer who fought in the American Revoluti ...

'' (1986)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gerson, Noel 1913 births 1988 deaths 20th-century American novelists American male novelists 20th-century American male writers American historical novelists Writers of historical fiction set in the Middle Ages