Edward Everett Hale was an American author, historian, and minister. Hale was also notable for his support of the Union during the American Civil War and he was elected as a Third Class Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

This is a collection of 11 short stories that were published in 1891. The book features the classic short story The Man Without a Country which tells the story of Philip Nolan, an Army lieutenant who renounced the United States during a trial for treason and is sentenced to spend the rest of his life at sea. The story was first published in 1863 and was written as a way to promote the Union cause.