author
J. W. Duffield
A prolific writer of early popular fiction, he helped shape adventure stories for young readers in the first half of the 20th century. Much of his work was fast-moving and series-driven, with airplanes, radios, sports, and daring escapades at the center.
11 Audiobooks
Bert Wilson in the Rockies
by J. W. Duffield
Radio Boys in the Flying Service; or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits
by J. W. Duffield
Bert Wilson's Twin Cylinder Racer
by J. W. Duffield
Radio Boys in the Secret Service; Or, Cast Away on an Iceberg
by J. W. Duffield
Bert Wilson at Panama
by J. W. Duffield
Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator
by J. W. Duffield
Bert Wilson at the Wheel
by J. W. Duffield
The Radio Boys Under the Sea; or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure
by J. W. Duffield
Bert Wilson, Marathon Winner
by J. W. Duffield
Bert Wilson on the Gridiron
by J. W. Duffield
Bert Wilson's Fadeaway Ball
by J. W. Duffield
About the author
Born in 1859 and dying in 1946, J. W. Duffield was an American bookseller, publisher, and author. Reliable reference sources identify him as John William Duffield and note that he wrote a large body of fiction for the Stratemeyer Syndicate, the influential factory-like publishing operation behind many classic juvenile series.
Duffield is especially associated with brisk adventure fiction for young readers. Sources credit him with writing at least 115 stories for the Syndicate under several names, including work published as Franklin W. Dixon and Richard H. Stone. His books often revolved around the enthusiasms of the day—radio, aviation, sports, and travel—which gave them an energetic, modern feel for their time.
Readers who come across his name today will often find it on public-domain editions and older series books. Even when his byline was hidden behind a house name, his career reflects an important chapter in American popular publishing, when serialized stories helped build the reading habits of generations of young listeners and readers.