Biography of max brand

Biography of Max Brand

Max Brand, born Frederick Schiller Faust, was an American writer known as a classic author of western genre. He was incredibly prolific and a master of his craft, writing quickly and with exceptional quality. His extensive body of work, consisting of hundreds of stories and novellas, has become a cherished legacy among fans of the genre.

Frederick Schiller Faust was born on May 29, 1892, in Seattle, Washington. His parents, Gilbert Leander Faust and Louisa Elizabeth Faust, passed away when he was a young child. He grew up in Central California and worked as a shepherd on the San Joaquin Valley Ranch for a period of time. Faust attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he wrote for local student publications, poetry magazines, and newspapers. However, he was unable to complete his education.

In 1915, Faust joined the Canadian army. He deserted after a year and moved to New York. During this time, he sold short stories to pulp magazines such as "All-Story Weekly" and "Argosy Magazine," under various pseudonyms. In 1917, when the United States entered World War I, Faust attempted to enlist again but was rejected. That same year, he married Dorothy Schillig, and they later had three children.

In the 1920s, Faust wrote extensively for pulp magazines like "Street & Smith's Western Story Magazine." He published approximately one million words per year under different pen names. It was not uncommon to find two serials and a short story written by him in one magazine issue. In 1921, Faust suffered a severe heart attack that plagued him for the rest of his life. He found inspiration in mythology, and many believe that his works reflect classical motifs. Characters he created, such as the peacekeeping cowboy Destry and Dr. Kildare, became popular and inspired others.

In 1934, Faust began writing for more elite and prestigious publications, often working from an Italian villa. In 1938, due to the unstable political situation in Europe, he returned to the United States with his family and settled in Hollywood. There, he became a professional screenwriter, collaborating with various studios. Warner Brothers, for example, paid him around $3,000 per week during a certain period, which was a significant sum at the time. By adapting the Dr. Kildare novels for MGM, Faust made a small fortune and was considered one of the highest-paid writers of his time. Interestingly, he regarded his commercial success with disdain and worked exclusively under pseudonyms, reserving his real name for poetry, which he considered his true calling.

With the outbreak of World War II, Faust felt compelled to join the war effort. Despite his age and heart problems, he became a war correspondent and went to the front lines. Soldiers reportedly enjoyed interacting with the renowned writer. Unfortunately, Faust's desire to be a war correspondent proved fatal. In 1944, while accompanying American troops in Italy, he was mortally wounded by shrapnel. His courage and bravery were later recognized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Frederick Faust is rightly considered one of the most prolific writers of all time, comparable to Edgar Wallace and Isaac Asimov. He wrote over 500 stories and nearly as many novellas for magazines, amounting to an estimated 25-30 million words in total. His speed in creating these works was remarkable, often producing 12,000 words over a single weekend. New books based on serialized magazine stories or previously unpublished works regularly appeared in print. On average, Faust published a new book every four months for 75 years. His extensive body of work was further expanded through reprints of his most popular works in various formats and translations.

Despite his high productivity, Faust's writing never suffered in quality. He was widely regarded as one of the best western authors of his time, and critics consistently praised the exceptional level of his works. Some even referred to Max Brand as the "Shakespeare of the western genre."