Henry Felsen
Encyclopedia
Henry Gregor Felsen was an American
writer
, particularly of middle grade (MG) and teen (YA) books. He wrote both under his own name and a title under the pen name
of Angus Vicker.
for two years, where he met his first wife Penny, from whom he was later divorced.
He taught part time at the Drake University
(1964-1969), and in 1977 left Iowa to spend his remaining years travelling. His second wife Karen survived him, as did a son (Dan) and daughter (Holly) from his first marriage, and two stepchildren.
, Felsen sold nine books and hundreds of stories in his first eighteen months of full-time freelance writing in the early 1940s. After war service with the Marine Corps
, during which he edited the corps magazine Leatherneck
and also wrote magazine articles while stationed in the Pacific, he returned to Iowa where he lived for most of the rest of his life.
His best-selling book was Hot Rod, one of a rodding series that also included Street Rod and Crash Club and sold about eight million copies in all. He wrote about 60 books, many of them moralistically exploring the evils of drugs
, sexism
and racism
.
He is also credited with one screenplay
, for the 1968 film Fever Heat, based on his novel of the same name which had been published under the pen name of Angus Vicker.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, particularly of middle grade (MG) and teen (YA) books. He wrote both under his own name and a title under the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
of Angus Vicker.
Biography
Felsen was born and attended school in Brooklyn, the son of Harry and Sabina Bedrick Felsen. He attended the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
for two years, where he met his first wife Penny, from whom he was later divorced.
He taught part time at the Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
(1964-1969), and in 1977 left Iowa to spend his remaining years travelling. His second wife Karen survived him, as did a son (Dan) and daughter (Holly) from his first marriage, and two stepchildren.
Career
After struggling financially during the DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Felsen sold nine books and hundreds of stories in his first eighteen months of full-time freelance writing in the early 1940s. After war service with the Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, during which he edited the corps magazine Leatherneck
Leatherneck Magazine
Leatherneck Magazine of the Marines is a magazine for United States Marines. It was first published as a newspaper by off-duty Marines at Marine Corps Base Quantico in 1917, and was originally named The Quantico Leatherneck...
and also wrote magazine articles while stationed in the Pacific, he returned to Iowa where he lived for most of the rest of his life.
His best-selling book was Hot Rod, one of a rodding series that also included Street Rod and Crash Club and sold about eight million copies in all. He wrote about 60 books, many of them moralistically exploring the evils of drugs
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
, sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
and racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
.
He is also credited with one screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
, for the 1968 film Fever Heat, based on his novel of the same name which had been published under the pen name of Angus Vicker.
External links
- Henry Gregor Felsen bibliography
- University of Iowa Papers of Henry Gregor Felsen