Max Brand, a pseudonym for Frederick Schiller Faust (1892–1944), was a prolific American author known predominantly for his western novels. Born in Seattle, Faust began his career with poetry before making a prodigious leap into the world of pulp fiction, where he found his true calling. 'Trailin'!', a prime example of his work, showcases his ability to weave dynamic tales of the Old West, complete with vivid landscapes, intricate plots, and robust characters. Brand's narrative style was characterized by a romanticized representation of the frontier—a blend of high adventure and melodrama, appealing to a wide audience of the time. Subtlety exploring themes of honor, revenge, and destiny, Max Brand's novels played a significant part in shaping the Western genre, influencing both contemporaries and future generations of writers. Throughout his career, he authored more than 500 novels for magazines and almost as many published in book form, often using various pseudonyms. Notably, many of Max Brand's works, including westerns like 'Trailin'!', continue to resonate with readers, retaining their place in the canon of classic American Western fiction.