Howard Fast
Howard Fast (1914-2003) was an American author of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and screenplays. He grew up the son of immigrants in New York City, and published his first novel after high school. Howard was sent to prison after he failed to provide U.S. Congress with a list of potential Communist associates. It was behind bars that he would write one of his most popular novels, Spartacus . His writing mixed his commitment to social justice with his style of storytelling that was both deft and lively. He also wrote as E.V. Cunningham and Walter Ericson.