Dale Swanson grew up in the Village of Island Park, now a part of Mound, Minnesota. He is a published author, playwright, and poet. His poems have been performed in stage productions and appear in multiple anthologies. His radio play, Stink Bomb, was performed live and aired on eleven radio stations statewide in 2013. His second play titled, World Record Racer, was performed live on July 12, 2014, at the Lakes Area Theatre, Alexandria, MN. His historical novel, The Thirty-ninth Man, published by North Star Press, was released in June of 2013 and made the list in the Star Tribune reader survey for best book read in 2013.
The Thirty-ninth Man is an historic novel culminating with the Dakota War of 1862 and the mass execution of thirty-eight men. History tells us little of the thirty-ninth man sentenced to die with the others, and he is largely ignored in all accounts of the executions.
This novel by D. A. Swanson weaves fictional events around historical facts creating a tapestry filled with accurate depictions of people from Minnesota’s past. Men like Lawrence Taliaferro, Josiah Snelling, John Jacob Astor, and a host of others share the stage with protagonist, Anton McAllister, and the thirty-ninth man, Tatemina—Round Wind. The story begins in 1804 and concludes on December 26, 1862.
The novel’s flap copy hints at the books content:
