Kenneth Lewis Roberts was an American author born on December 8, 1885, in Kennebunk, Maine. He is widely recognized for his historical novels, with his writing primarily focused on the colonial period. Roberts began his career as a journalist, achieving national recognition for his work with the Saturday Evening Post from 1919 to 1928.
After gaining popularity as a journalist, Roberts transitioned to become a successful novelist. He is best known for his historical novels such as "Arundel," "Northwest Passage," and "Lydia Bailey." Roberts' work is characterized by his specialized interest in regionalist historical fiction, often depicting the terrain and settings of his native state, Maine, as well as other upper states and scenes of New England. For instance, the main characters in "Arundel" and "Rabble in Arms" are from Kennebunk, then called Arundel, while the main character in "Northwest Passage" hails from Kittery, Maine, with friends in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Similarly, the main character in "Oliver Wiswell" is from Milton, Massachusetts.