Auteur: Burt L. Standish

Burt L. Standish is the pen name of American author William George “Gilbert” Patten (1866–1945), who was a prolific writer of dime novels and is best known for his Frank Merriwell stories. These adventure and sports stories were extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. “Frank Merriwell”s Son; Or, A Chip Off the Old Block” is one among the many novels featuring Frank Merriwell, a character that became an icon of all-American youth, characterized by virtue, athleticism, and an indomitable spirit. Patten”s work, under the Standish pseudonym, epitomized the ideal of the American boy hero during the period and was admired for its positive influence on young readers. Writing upwards of a novel a week at his peak, Patten was known for his swift and engaging narrative style, relatable characters, and the incorporation of contemporary issues into his storylines. He helped to establish a literary form that would evolve into modern young adult fiction, and his legacy is reflected in the sheer volume of his work and the continued nostalgia for the period”s popular literature.