James Otis is a pseudonym of James Otis Kaler (1848-1912) born in Winterport USA. He wrote over 150 adventure and patriotic biographies that had great appeal for his boy readers. Many were in series and intended for classroom use. Where series names are used below only those that are HNF are listed.
At 13, Kaler left home to become a reporter in Boston. When he was only 16, he provided news coverage of Civil War battles and events. He continued in the newspaper profession as a writer and editor. In 1898, Kaler returned to Maine to become the first superintendent of schools for the city of South Portland that had just separated from Cape Elizabeth. The city later named an elementary school in his honor. In the early 1970s, Kaler's sons and grandchildren presented the city with a collection of Kaler manuscripts, books, and letters. The materials are located in the South Portland Public Library and can be viewed by scholars and interested readers.
Many of his novels are not copyright in many countries and some are available as free eBooks in the online store
AOS Naval Fiction
** These books were re-published under alternate titles as part of the 'Navy Boys' series