At the Twelfth Hour: Selected Short Stories of Joseph A. Altsheler

by Joseph Alexander Altsheler

Joseph A. Altsheler was probably the most popular American author of boys' fiction in the first half of the twentieth century. Although his peak of popularity is past, his novels are frequently listed on ebay and find a ready audience. New printings of his most popular novels are still being issued. Despite his popularity, there has never been a collection of his short stories until now. Many of these short stories are of historical and literary interest to a general and academic audience, particularly in Kentucky where many of his stories are set. The contents of At the Twelfth Hour reflect original research about Altsheler's fiction, as well as nine of his best stories.

126 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2007

About the author

Joseph Alexander Altsheler was an American newspaper reporter, editor and author of popular juvenile historical fiction. He was a prolific writer, and produced fifty-one novels and at least fifty-three short stories. Thirty-two of his novels were part of his seven series:

The Civil War Series (8 volumes)
The French and Indian War Series (6 volumes)
The Gold Series (2 volumes)
The Great West Series (2 volumes)
The Texan Series (3 volumes)
The World War Series (3 volumes)
The Young Trailers Series (8 volumes)

Although each of the thirty-two novels constitutes an independent story, Altsheler suggested a reading order for each series (i.e., he numbered the volumes). The remaining nineteen novels can be read in any order. [Note, however, that A Knight of Philadelphia was later expanded through the addition of nineteen chapters and some minor tweaks to become Mr. Altsheler's novel In Hostile Red.]

The short stories, of course, can be read in any order. However, some readers might prefer to read them in the order in which they were published. The short story list below is displayed in chronological order with the publication dates shown alongside the titles.