Max Brand (1892–1944) is the best-known pen name of widely acclaimed author Frederick Faust, creator of Destry, Dr. Kildare, and other beloved fictional characters. Prolific in many genres he wrote historical novels, detective mysteries, pulp fiction stories and many more. His love for mythology was a constant source of inspiration for his fiction, and it has been speculated that these classical influences accounted in some part for his success as a popular writer. "The Pearls Of Bonfadini" is an adventurous historical romance set in 16th-century Italy. The main character is Tizzo, a master swordsman, known as "Firebrand" because of his flaming red hair and flame-blue eyes.