author
T. A. (Theodore Arthur) Willard
1862–1943
Best known as an inventor who also turned his curiosity toward the ancient Maya, this early 20th-century writer brought archaeology and adventure together in vivid, accessible books. His work reflects a rare mix of engineering skill, travel experience, and enthusiasm for the past.
1 Audiobook
The City of the Sacred Well
by T. A. (Theodore Arthur) Willard
About the author
Born in Minnesota in 1862, Theodore Arthur Willard built a varied career as an inventor, engraver, musician, and writer. Archival records describe him as a mechanical talent with wide-ranging interests, and science-fiction reference sources note that he later wrote books connected with Maya history and legend.
Willard is especially associated with The City of the Sacred Well and Bride of the Rain God, works inspired by the archaeology and storytelling traditions of Chichen Itza and the wider Maya world. His writing aimed to make those subjects vivid for general readers, blending travel, historical interest, and romance.
He died in Beverly Hills, California, in 1943. Today, he is remembered not only for his books but also for the unusual path that led him from invention and industry into popular writing about ancient America.