William Stearns Davis
William Stearns Davis was an American educator, historian, and author. He has been cited as one who "contributed to history as a scholarly discipline,. .. [but] was intrigued by the human side of history, which, at the time, was neglected by the discipline." After first experimenting with short stories, he turned while still a college undergraduate to longer forms to relate, from an involved (fictional) character's view, a number of critical turns of history. This faculty for humanizing, even dramatizing, history characterized Davis' later academic and professional writings as well, making them particularly suitable for secondary and higher education during the first half of the twentieth century in a field which, according to one editor, had "lost the freshness and robustness. .. the congeniality" that should mark the study of history. Both Davis' fiction and non-fiction are found in public and academic libraries today.
A Day in Old Athens; a Picture of Athenian Life
Experience a day in the life of ancient Athens, where philosophers pondered, artists created, and a bustling democracy shaped the foundations of Western civilization.
By William Stearns Davis
A Friend of Cæsar: A Tale of the Fall of the Roman Republic. Time, 50-47 B.C.
Amidst political turmoil in ancient Rome, a young man returning home must navigate love, duty, and societal expectations as the Republic crumbles around him.
By William Stearns Davis
Life on a Mediaeval Barony A Picture of a Typical Feudal Community in the Thirteenth Century
In a medieval world of castles and kings, a barony reveals a life of lords and vassals bound by duty and tradition.
By William Stearns Davis
The Saint of the Dragon's Dale: A Fantastical Tale
In a medieval world of saints and sinners, a humble hermit must confront a wicked baron and his own desires to rescue a captured maiden.
By William Stearns Davis
A Victor of Salamis
Amidst the splendor of ancient games and looming Persian threats, a young athlete strives for glory and his father's love just as his city prepares for war.
By William Stearns Davis
Belshazzar: A Tale of the Fall of Babylon
In a world of ancient empires, a prince and princess navigate love and loyalty as their nations clash, threatening to bring down a kingdom.
By William Stearns Davis
"God Wills It!" A Tale of the First Crusade.
Amidst a world of clashing cultures, a young nobleman's quest is defined by his faith, his bravery, and the unlikely friendships he builds during the tumultuous First Crusade.
By William Stearns Davis