author
Willis Boyd Allen
1855–1938
A Harvard-educated lawyer who left legal practice to write, he became a prolific American author of fiction and articles, especially for young readers. His work often drew on travel, adventure, and everyday moral choices in a clear, lively style.
6 Audiobooks
Around the Yule Log
by Willis Boyd Allen
Silver Rags
by Willis Boyd Allen
Christmas on Wheels
by Willis Boyd Allen
In the Morning
by Willis Boyd Allen
The North Pacific: A Story of the Russo-Japanese War
by Willis Boyd Allen
Gulf and Glacier; or, The Percivals in Alaska
by Willis Boyd Allen
About the author
Born in Kittery Point, Maine, on July 9, 1855, Willis Boyd Allen studied at Boston Latin School, graduated from Harvard in 1878, and earned a law degree from Boston University in 1881. After a short time practicing law, he turned fully to writing in 1888.
Allen went on to publish about 30 books along with many magazine pieces. His work appeared in periodicals such as The Atlantic Monthly, Century, and Scribner's, and he became especially known for stories aimed at younger readers.
He also worked as an editor during part of his career, and his writing ranged across adventure, travel, and religious or character-driven fiction. He died in 1938, leaving behind a substantial body of popular writing from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.