F. Van Wyck Mason Books In Order

Publication Order of Captain North Adventure Books

Publication Order of American Revolution Books

Publication Order of Civil War Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

F. Van Wyck Mason was a renowned American novelist and historian. He was famous for writing historical fiction, adult fiction, pulp magazine, spy fiction, young adult, and defective fiction genres of novels. Van Wyck had a prolific and long writing career that spanned for around fifty years. His career included altogether seventy-eight published novels, a number of which had become bestseller and were very well received. Van Wyck was particularly well known for writing and publishing a very long running series called Hugh North, as well as the American Revolution and the Civil War novel series. Author Mason was born as Francis Van Wyck Mason on November 11, 1901, in Boston Massachusetts, United States. He belonged to a patrician family in Boston that had immigrated to America in the 17th century.

During the earlier days of his youth, Mason was very much involved in the adventure. It was only later that he developed an interest in writing and started taking it seriously at the professional level. Author Mason spent the initial 8 years of his life in Paris and Berlin, where his grandfather was posted as the Consul General of U.S. He took this opportunity to become well versed with French. Then, he lived for some time Illinois before shifting to Europe in 1917 to serve in the First World War. Mason followed it up by enlisting himself in French Army. He reached the rank of an artillery officer and was honored with many commendations. By the time Mason reached the age of 17, he got himself included in the army of the United States and also become a Lieutenant. When the war got over, author Mason joined the preparatory school and then got enrolled in the Harvard University. He achieved a bachelor’s degree in science.

After completing his graduation, Mason had the intention of joining diplomatic corps, but he could not fulfill his dream due to the untimely death of his father. Subsequently, he decided to begin a business of importing goods. This enabled him to visit and travel to different countries all around the world in search of rugs and antiques. The places that Mason had traveled to include North Africa, Central Africa, Russia, Central America, Europe, West Indies, Near East, etc. During the last years of his life, author Mason was settled in the New York City. He had developed interests in hunting and polo. Author Mason’s style of writing was quite colorful and straightforward. The stories penned by him generally consist of a gentleman character as the main hero, who gets forced to some extreme circumstances, but manages to come out victorious. Mason’s stories are mostly set in various exotic locations, which is inspired by the extensive travels taken up with himself. As with the pulp fiction genre, Mason began with an adventurous novel in 1928 and then moved on to write serious stories of historical fiction from 1938 onwards. He had published stories that involved jungle settings, war, historical adventures, and French Foreign Legion.

Mason created the character of Captain Hugh North in 1930 and included him in the stories having the format of traditional mystery. The later stories of this character were more of political intrigue and spy fiction. The historical fiction works of author Mason included naval battles, long sea voyages, and warfare. Many of his historical books have a preface of a long discussion of the context and historical setting of the story. With his stories, Mason had tried to recount some less known but significant historical events. Mason was married twice, the second one being with his long time secretary named Jean Louise Hand. During the early 1950s, author Mason had relocated to Bermuda and lived there until his tragic death. Mason died due to drowning on 28th August 1978 while swimming off the Bermuda coast. He had finished writing his last novel called Armored Giants, which was released posthumously in the 1980s.

A very popular series written by author F. Van Wyck Mason is called the American Revolution series. This series is comprised of a total of 6 books, which were released between the years 1938 and 1966. Each book of this series features different main characters. A very successful novel of this series is entitled ‘Stars of the Sea’. This book was published in the year 1940. The chief character of this book is shown as Tim Bennett. In addition to him, the other important characters include Lucy, Jeanette, and several others. At the start of the book’s story, it is shown that Tim Bennett is a young patriot, who is fearless and cherishes the love for American freedom. He waits for the crossing paths with the British fleet’s mighty ships and attacks them with all fierceness with every chance he gets. Tim Bennett puts in all his effort to wipe the seas of the oppression and slavery’s encroaching forces. Lucy is Tim’s lover, who waits patiently for his return to home. A different kind of war rages on at his home. And while, he continues to scourge the ships of the British fleet, Lucy prays for his early return. However, when Tim Bennet is in Cap Francois, he gets attracted to another woman named Jeanette. She seems quite enticing and beautiful. Jeanette does not believe in liberty and freedom, and sees them just as words. The thing that holds importance in Jeanette’s life in her demanding passion, and she wishes to ignite such a passion in Tim also. But, Tim seems unaware of the fact that this attraction could prove fatal for him.

Another very famous book of this series is known as ‘River of Glory’. The Berkeley publication re-released it in 1976, after its first release in 1942. The novel consists of the central characters as Andrew Warren, Minga Allen, etc. Mason has done the setting of this novel in New York, Jamaica, Savannah, and several other places. At the beginning of the story of the book, it is depicted that Lieutenant Andrew Warren is among the first few naval officers of America and serves on first Lexington. The action begins at the very beginning of the plot and moves from Boston to New York, Jamaica, and finally ends in Savannah. The list of characters depicted include simple farmers, aristocrats, idealists, vicious Maroons. Mason has described the Independence War of America and the struggle that its brave men went through to achieve freedom. Andrew Warren is still quite young when he sets sail to Jamaica for picking up medical supplies for his country’s patriot armies. During his voyage, he meets Minga Allen and falls in love with her. The two keep their own purposes hidden from one another and go through the dangerous intrigue of the independence struggle during the late 18th century.

One Response to “F. Van Wyck Mason”

1. M Grant Ludwig Jr: 1 month ago

   Thanks for the list…also enjoy kenneth roberts, alan ekert. Any other recommendations of early american historical novel authors?

   Reply