Eustace Cockrell

Eustace Cockrell was a pioneer television writer who contributed to many of the early western shows, including SUGARFOOT, MAN WITHOUT A GUN and CHEYENNE. He also wrote for such high-profile television programs as ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, THE LORETTA YOUNG SHOW and NAKED CITY.

Cockrell was a master of the short story prior to his Hollywood career, however. Over a 25 years period beginning in 1932, his works appeared regularly in pulp fiction magazines such as BLUE BOOK and ARGOSY as well as in "slicks" like COLLIERS, SATURDAY EVENING POST and COSMOPOLITAN.

Now for the first time, these stories have been collected in a five-volume set, THE COLLECTED WORKS OF EUSTACE COCKRELL, edited by Roger Coleman, Cockrell's son-in-law. Coleman, also a writer, is married to Cockrell's daughter, Elizabeth.

These illustrated volumes are organized to reflect various divisions within Cockrell's prolific career. THE MASTERPIECES OF EUSTACE COCKRELL, VOL. 1 includes his early stories (1936-1945) portraying the darkness of the Great Depression and the coming of World War II. Here, orphans, ex-cons and soldiers often serve as heroes and sources of inspiration. THE MASTERPIECES OF EUSTACE COCKRELL, VOL. II brings together his later stories (1946-1945) expressing greater awareness of social issues and a rebellion against restrictive attitudes, especially those limiting the role of women and minorities.

Cockrell developed one of the first fictional African American heroes in the boxer, Refugee Smith. REFUGEE SMITH AND OTHER STORIES OF THE RING provides a collection of the sixteen Refugee Smith stories along with other boxing narratives. GAME AS THEY MAKE 'EM further highlights Cockrell's reputation as a fictional sports writer. Included in this volume are his early football stories along with later coverage of horse racing, tennis, baseball and golf.

THE LOST STORIES OF EUSTACE COCKRELL is scheduled for publication by Mission Point Press in May 2023. This final volume in Cockrell's COLLECTED WORKS brings together his unpublished stories and offers a more autobiographical insight of the author.

THE COLLECTED WORKS OF EUSTACE COCKRELL is a significant addition to the literature of the 1930s and 1940s and further defines Cockrell's importance as an American writer, whether read in print or watched on the home screen.