Collections : [Florida Atlantic University Libraries]

Florida Atlantic University Libraries is the designated repository of the personal papers and manuscript archives of Florida author Theodore Pratt. The collection includes the author's personal copies of first and foreign editions of his works, original typescripts of his fiction and screenplays, correspondence, research notes, illustrative artwork for dustcovers and paperbacks, in addition to personal mementos and photographs. In 1934, Theodore Pratt and his wife Belle Jacqueline Jacques moved to Lake Worth, Florida and made it their home until his death in 1969. He published 35 novels, including four mysteries under the pseudonym of "Timothy Brace," two collections of short stories, two plays (adapted from his novels), and numerous short stories and articles. Pratt used a second pseudonym, "Peter Steel" for an adult novel titled The Amulet. Of the 35 novels, 14 of Pratt's novels and many of his short stories are set in Florida. His trilogy, consisting of The Barefoot Mailman, The Flame Tree, and The Big Bubble (reprinted as My Bride in the Storm), tell the story of the state between 1880 and 1924 and resulted in the author being dubbed "the literary laureate of Florida." Four of his novels and one article were adapted to screenplays and became feature films. His Florida novels were thoroughly researched and scrupulously portrayed the history of Florida people, institutions and events. He also kept detailed documentation on the practical and tedious aspects of making a living as a writer. His correspondence and photographs illustrate his unique character and provides a glimpse into the old Florida lifestyle. In 1950, Pratt began to publish most of his work in paperback as he wanted to address sexual themes which most serious publishers would not consider. Pratt's interest in sexology or the scientific study of human sexual behavior can be seen in his novels, The Tormented (1950), The Lovers of Pompeii (1961), and Without Consent (1962). The Tormented is a study of nymphomania that was rejected by thirty-four publishers. Once published, it sold more than a million copies. Because of the paperback format and mass market appeal of his books, critics paid little attention to most of his work.