Mightier Than the Sword

The author, a self-educated factory worker, took an interest In Upton Sinclair’s writings in the late 20’s and began corresponding with him on a regular basis. After several years of correspondence, Kress decided to start a biography of Sinclair from a mostly political point of view. In the late 30’s Sinclair began writing the “WORLD”S END” series of historical novels pertaining to events leading up to World War II, with Lanny Budd as the hero. Sinclair asked Kress if he would like to review each chapter as it was completed, and Kress consented. Hundreds of letters and comments were exchanged until Upton completed the eleven volume series in 1953. “DRAGON”S TEETH” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1942. When Sinclair passed away in a nursing home in 1968, the curtain also came down on the biography. K.K.