Beach, Rex

Rex Beach was an American novelist, dramatist, and Olympic water polo player. Rex Beach was born in Atwood, Michigan but moved to Tampa, Florida with his family where his father was growing fruit trees. Early on, he was drawn to Alaska at the time of the Klondike Gold Rush. Rex Beach's first novel, The Spoilers, was based on a true story of corrupt government officials stealing gold mines from prospectors. The Spoilers became one of the best selling novels. For many, Rex Beach is considered the "Victor Hugo of the North," and his Westerns have been adapted into successful films.