Gwen Bristow was a successful American author and journalist, who was born in South Carolina in 1903. She was raised in a family with deep roots in the region, as her ancestors had settled there in the seventeenth century. After completing her education at Columbia University, Bristow began her writing career by contributing to various literary magazines and journals. She subsequently moved to New Orleans and worked at the Times-Picayune.
Bristow's interest in longer forms of writing, such as novels and short stories, was sparked by her husband, screenwriter Bruce Manning. She published her first novel in 1929, and her literary career took off with the publication of Deep Summer, the first book in a trilogy of Louisiana-set historical novels. The other two books in the series are The Handsome Road and This Side of Glory.
In addition to her successful career as a novelist, Bristow also wrote for Hollywood. She and her husband co-wrote several books together, including The Invisible Host. Bristow's writing was not limited to fiction, as she also penned non-fiction works, such as a biography of the Confederate naval officer Raphael Semmes.
Bristow reached the peak of her career with the western romance Jubilee Trail, which became a bestseller in 1950 and was adapted into a moderately successful film in 1954. Overall, Bristow's works brought to life significant events in American history, including the siege of Charleston during the American Revolution (Celia Garth) and the great California gold rush (Calico Palace). Bristow passed away in 1980, leaving behind a legacy of engaging and historically rich novels.