A. Merritt
Abraham Merritt (1884-1943) was an influential American writer known for his contributions to the science fiction and fantasy genres. Born in New Jersey and later moving to Philadelphia, he pursued a career in journalism, working for the Philadelphia Inquirer before becoming the assistant editor of the American Weekly. Merritt's literary career began with the publication of his first story, "Through the Dragon Glass," in 1917, followed by his debut novel, The Moon Pool, in 1919. He is perhaps best known for his novel The Ship of Ishtar, a tale that intertwines adventure and romance in a fantastical setting. Throughout his life, Merritt's works not only captivated readers but also inspired adaptations into film, such as Seven Footprints to Satan and Burn, Witch, Burn! In addition to his writing, he had a keen interest in botany, authoring several articles on exotic plants. Merritt's imaginative storytelling and unique world-building have left a lasting impact on science fiction and fantasy literature, cementing his legacy as a significant figure in these genres.
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A. Merritt
Author
- Born: January 20, 1884
- Birthplace: Beverley, New Jersey
- Died: August 30, 1943
- Place of death: Florida
Biography
Abraham Merritt was born in 1884 in Beverley, New Jersey, and moved with his family to Philadelphia when he was ten years old. He later studied law, but his interests gravitated toward journalism. He worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1901 to 1911, where he was a reporter, editor, and science- fiction and fantasy writer before becoming the night city editor. In 1912, he became assistant editor of the American Weekly, and in 1937 he was promoted to editor, a position he held until he died of a heart attack in 1943. Merritt married Eleanore Ratcliffe in the early 1910’s and the couple raised an adopted daughter; after Ratcliffe died, he married Eleanor H. Johnson in the 1930’s.
Merritt’s first published story, the fantasy “Through the Dragon Glass,” appeared in Argosy All Stories Weekly in 1917, and his first novel, The Moon Pool, was published in 1919. He published many other fantasy and science-fiction novels, including The Ship of Ishtar (1926). That novel, which chronicles the journey of a man through a magical world in which the traveler falls in love with the female captain of the title ship, is considered by some to be Merritt’s best work. Two of Merritt’s novels were adapted to film: Seven Footprints to Satan was published in 1928 and made into a film in 1929, and Burn, Witch, Burn! was published in 1933 and filmed as The Devil Doll four years later.
Merritt’s greatest influence on the genres of science fiction and fantasy resulted from his imaginative depiction of other worlds, and a pulp magazine was named for the popular writer. Beyond his interests in journalism and writing, Merritt was an avid student of exotic plants and wrote several botany articles.