William Dudley Pelley was an American author, journalist, and political activist who rose to prominence in the early 20th century. Born in 1890 in Massachusetts, Pelley began his career as a journalist, working for several newspapers in the Midwest and on the East Coast. During World War I, he served in the military and worked as a war correspondent.
In the 1920s and 30s, Pelley became involved in political activism, founding a right-wing movement called the Silver Legion of America (also known as the Silver Shirts). The group was known for its anti-Semitic and fascist beliefs, and Pelley himself was a vocal advocate for white supremacy and eugenics.
Despite his controversial political views, Pelley was a prolific writer and published numerous books, articles, and short stories throughout his career. His work often reflected his far-right beliefs, with themes of racial purity, nationalism, and anti-Semitism.
Pelley’s most famous work is probably his novel “Star Guests,” which was published in 1932 and tells the story of a group of aliens who visit Earth and teach humanity the secrets of spiritual enlightenment. The book was widely popular at the time and is still read by some today as a work of science fiction.
