Williams, Ben (1889 - 1953)

Genre: General Fiction

A native Mississippian (born Macon, MS, 7 March 1889) who spent his childhood in Ohio, Williams graduated from Dartmouth in 1910, worked as a reporter for the Boston American from 1910-1916, and went on to live outside of Boston, summering in North Searsmont and Blue Hill. He wrote over 35 novels and 400 short stories, many set in the mythical village of Fraternity, Maine (similar to his home in the Searsmont area), as well as some histories and other non-fiction works.

His wife, Florence Trafton Talpey of York, Maine, was descended from a long line of sea captains.

Williams received honorary degrees in American literature from Dartmouth College and Colby College.

Ben Ames Williams died on 4 Feb. 1953.

Selected Bibliography

  • All the Brothers Were Valiant (1919)
  • The Sea Bride (1919)
  • The Great Accident (1920)
  • Evered (1921)
  • Black Pawl (1922)
  • Thrifty Stock and Other Stories (1923)
  • Audacity (1924)
  • The Rational Hind (1925)
  • The Silver Forest (1926; also published as A Killer Among Us (1957)
  • Immortal Longings (1927)
  • Splendor (1927)
  • The Dreadful Night (1928)
  • The Bellmer Mystery (1929; also released as Death on Scurvy Street (1949)
  • Great Oaks (1930)
  • An End to Mirth (1931)
  • Pirate's Purchase (1931)
  • Honeyflow (1932)
  • Money Musk(1932; published in 1948 as Lady in Peril)
  • Mischief (1933)
  • Pascal's Mill (1933)
  • Hostile Valley (1934; later printed as Valley Vixen (1948)
  • Small Town Girl (1935)
  • Crucible and It's A Free Country (1937)
  • The Strumpet Sea (1938)
  • Thread of Sea (1939)
  • Come Spring (1940)
  • The Strange Woman (1941)
  • Time of Peace: Sept. 26, 1930 - Dec. 7, 1941 (1942)
  • Amateurs at War: The American Soldier in Action (1943)
  • Leave Her To Heaven (1944)
  • House Divided (1947)
  • Fraternity Village (1949)
  • The Diary from Dixie (1949)
  • Owen Glen (1950)
  • The Unconquered (1953)
  • The Happy End (1991)

Selected Resources