Don Sturdy

Don Sturdy was a fictional character in the Don Sturdy series of 15 American children's adventure novels published between 1925 and 1935. All but one book were written by John W. Duffield. The remaining book, Don Sturdy In The Land Of Giants, or, Captives Of the Savage Patagonians (1930), was written by Howard Roger Garis. All 15 were published as by Victor Appleton, a house name used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate.

Cover of 1953 version of the British printing of Don Sturdy The Big Snake Hunters. Printed without dust jacket.

This series appears to be the 2nd Stratemeyer Syndicate series' to be re-printed outside the United States, where it was originally published; the first series book being the first book in the Ted Scott series. An exact date of first printing is unknown, as the earlier copy of Big Snake Hunters doesn't have a printing or copyright date inside. Only 2 Don Sturdy titles were printed in Britain (the other being The Desert of Mystery). Two British forms of The Big Snake Hunters are known to exist, both printed by The Children's Press. One from the 1930s and another with different cover art from 1953.

Early in his career, actor Howard Hesseman used the name Don Sturdy as his stage name, particularly when he was a member of the improvisational group The Committee. He is listed under this name in the cast of the movie Billy Jack and in an episode of Dragnet.

The Don Sturdy series includes:

• Don Sturdy in the Tombs of Gold, illustrated by Walter S. Rogers, 1925
• Don Sturdy Across the North Pole, illustrated by Walter S. Rogers, 1925
• Don Sturdy With the Big Snake Hunters, illustrated by Walter S. Rogers, 1925
• Don Sturdy On the Desert of Mystery, illustrated by Walter S. Rogers, 1925
• Don Sturdy Among the Gorillas, illustrated by Walter S. Rogers, 1927
• Don Sturdy Captured by Head Hunters, illustrated by Walter S. Rogers, 1928
• Don Sturdy In Lion Land, illustrated by Walter S. Rogers, 1929
• Don Sturdy On the Ocean Bottom, illustrated by Walter S. Rogers, 1931
• Don Sturdy in the Temples of Fear, illustrated by Nat Falk, 1932
• Don Sturdy Lost in Glacier Bay, illustrated by Nat Falk, 1933
• Don Sturdy Trapped in the Flaming Wilderness, illustrated by Nat Falk, 1934