Bertrand Shurtleff

Born in 1897, Bertrand Leslie Shurtleff was an American author whose work ranged from early poetry to popular fiction for younger readers. His 1922 volume Songs at Anchor shows that he was publishing from a young age, and later records identify him as a contributor to adventure and pulp fiction as well as books for boys.

He is especially remembered for dog stories, including the AWOL series that began with AWOL: K-9 Commando in 1944. His fiction often centered on capable animal heroes and fast-moving plots, which helped make his books appealing to readers who liked action and wartime adventure.

Shurtleff also had an unusually wide-ranging life outside writing. Reliable biographical sources describe him as a Brown University athlete who later played professional football, and also note work as a teacher and public speaker. He died in 1967.