Author: John Grove

Max Brand, the pen name of Frederick Schiller Faust (1892–1944), was a prolific American author known for his Western stories, novels, and screenplays. Faust, under the pseudonym Max Brand and other aliases, produced an impressive body of work that was not only limited to Westerns but also spanned other genres such as detective fiction, historical romance, and even poetry. His narrative style, characterized by a blend of dramatic action and psychological depth, captured the imagination of his readers and established him as a significant figure in the pulp fiction era of the early 20th century. Among his notable works, “The Untamed” introduced the indomitable character Dan Barry, a figure emblematic of Brand”s unique blend of the mythic and the real Western frontier. This character”s saga extended through “The Night Horseman” and “The Seventh Man, ” culminating in “Dan Barry”s Daughter, ” each novel further refining Brand”s vision of the Western hero and the untamed landscape he inhabits. These works not only cultivated a dedicated readership during his lifetime but also continued to engage generations thereafter. Brand”s influence permeates the Western genre, and his books remain a testament to his enduring legacy in American literature.