Name: PRATT, Murray Fletcher Aged: 59
Born: April 25, 1897 Where: Buffalo, New York
Died: June 10, 1956 Where: Long Branch, New Jersey
Interred: _ _ _
Married: Inga Stephens When: 1926
Awarded: Honored by the New York Civil War Round Table naming its annual award for the best book on the Civil War in his memory.

Librarian, newspaper reporter, writer; Fletcher was best known for his work as a naval historian. Author of over 50 books on multiple subjects, Pratt was also a linguist and translated works from German and French. WWII shaped his output (see bibliography) and generated an intense interest in all things military. Pratt was often researching and writing three and four works at once.

It would be deceptive to say that Fletcher was another of the Civil War historian/writers, which he was. But more exactly, Fletcher's main area of expertise and hobby was studying the legendary battles of war, from prehistory up until modern times. Pratt's first book, 1934's The Heroic Years,was about the War of 1812 and the James Madison administration. Fletcher's military output during WWII was awesome.

Pratt's first short story appeared in the pulps in the late 1920s. His SF was mostly in short form but often in novella or novelette length when he was the sole author. In collaboration, the works were usually short stories. In SF, Pratt's name is closely tied to L. Sprague de Camp, with whom Fletcher seems to have had an easy and comfortable partner. Pratt's wife, Inga, was a gifted artist and often illustrated his books.

Pratt's last work, The Compact History of the United States Navy was completed one week before he died.

PEN NAMES: George W. Fletcher, Irwin Lester

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Mine here.

BIOGRAPHY: Who Was Who, Vol 3, p698.

OBITUARY: New York Times, June 11, 1956, p31

Send relevant email to George C. Willick