Oliver OpticOliver Optic was the pen name of William Taylor Adams, a prolific American author and editor best known for his many books for children and young readers. Born in 1822, Adams became one of the most widely read juvenile writers of the nineteenth centuy, producing school stories, travel adventures, boating tales, military adventures, and series fiction built around courage, discipline, enterprise, and moral development.His works include the "Boat Club," "Army and Navy," and "All Over the World Library" series, among many others. The Louis Belgrave books, including Across India, reflect the period's enthusiasm for educational travel fiction, presenting geography, foreign places, adventure, and conduct lessons through the structure of popular juvenile storytelling. Optic's books remain useful to readers interested in classic children's literature, nineteenth-century American juvenile fiction, boys' adventure stories, and the history of series publishing for young readers. Read More Read Less