Howard Fast

Howard Melvin Fast (1914–2003) was an American novelist and television writer, born in New York City. His career spanned almost seven decades, mostly in historical fiction, including Citizen Tom Paine, Freedom Road, Spartacus, April Morning and The Immigrants. He also wrote crime fiction as E. V. Cunningham and science fiction. He was a member of the Communist Party from 1943 to 1957 and was jailed for contempt of Congress. He died in Connecticut.