Davis (1864-1916) was an American journalist and writer of fiction and drama, known foremost as the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish-American War, the Second Boer War and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt and he also played a major role in the evolution of the American magazine. His influence extended into the world of fashion and he is credited with making the clean-shaven look popular among men at the turn of the 20th century, being the model for illustrator Charles Dana Gibson's 'Gibson man', the male equivalent of his famous Gibson Girl. This novel was first published in 1897.