Book excerpt: One of the most mysterious of authors, B. Traven spent his early life in Germany as an actor and anarchist publisher using the name of Ret Marut, then emerged in Mexico as B. Traven, a literary champion of the proletariat. This work examines his career through the production of his 16 books (twelve novels, two novellas, a work of nonfiction, and a collection of short stories), to the production of the movie The Treasures of the Sierra Madre, where he emerged this time as Hal Croves. The bibliography, with 140 illustrations and 1200 entries, provides information on the publication of over a thousand editions of Traven's books. For the first time, information on the states and issues of many editions, including first editions published in Germany between 1926 and 1960, is provided. Includes an illustrated descriptive bibliography of all of the American and British first editions. An essential tool for collectors, book dealers, and librarians.