author
Paul Anderson
1880–1956
A photographer who also turned to storytelling, he wrote vivid historical adventures set in ancient Rome along with school stories and outdoor tales for young readers. His books blend a visual eye for detail with a gift for action and atmosphere.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Trenton, New Jersey, on October 8, 1880, Paul Lewis Anderson trained first as an engineer, graduating from Lehigh University in 1901 with a degree in electrical engineering. In 1910 he left engineering, opened a portrait studio in East Orange, New Jersey, and soon built a reputation in photography; his first book on the subject appeared in 1914, and he also taught at the Clarence H. White School.
Alongside his photography career, he wrote fiction for younger readers. He is known for five historical novels centered on ancient Rome, as well as two novels about life at a New England boys' preparatory school. He also published many outdoors-focused short stories in magazines including Boys' Life and The Outdoorsman.
That mix of practical craft, visual imagination, and storytelling energy gives his work a distinctive feel. Whether writing about Roman life or American outdoor adventure, he brought a strong sense of scene and movement to the page.