Zane Grey

Zane Grey (1875-1939), American novelist, noted for his careful research and for his accurate portrayal of the American West. Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Grey trained as a dentist but turned to writing as a career in 1904, when his first book was published. That novel, Betty Zane, was based on the experiences of one of his ancestors. Grey wrote more than 50 novels, most of them tales of adventure with a Western setting, including The Last of the Plainsmen (1908), Riders of the Purple Sage (1912), The Thundering Herd (1925), Code of the West (1934), and West of the Pecos (1937). His nonfiction works include Tales of Fishing (1925). Many of Grey's novels continue to be extremely popular, and several have been adapted into motion pictures.