Numerous books by George Barr McCutcheon are set in Graustark, a made-up nation in Eastern Europe. Both of Graustark's neighbors, Axphain to the north and Dawsbergen to the south, are mentioned in the stories. There is at least one reference in the books that fixes Graustark's location as someplace in the Carpathian Mountains close to Romania. Graustark is depicted as a hilly country with an area of about 800 square miles. Truxton King, on the other side, is supposed to offer a quicker rail connection to Russian areas in or close to Afghanistan, whereas Graustark is reportedly under threat of shrinking to only 25 miles broad by 150 miles long (3750 square miles). Trains run between Vienna and Edelweiss, the capital of Graustark. The mountain village of Ganlook is close to the border with Graustark's longtime adversary, Axphain. The Prisoner of Zenda and its subsequent books by Anthony Hope, published in 1894, is comparable to the court intrigue, royal disguise, and romance found in the Graustark novels. They were bestsellers when they were first released, and used bookstores still carry the original editions today.
George Barr McCutcheon was an American playwright and famous author who lived from July 26, 1866, until October 23, 1928. His best-known works include the novel Brewster's Millions, which has been translated into a play and numerous films, and a series of books set in Graustark, a made-up nation in East Europe. In Indiana's Tippecanoe County, McCutcheon was born. Despite having no formal schooling himself, his father emphasized the importance of literature and urged his sons to write. McCutcheon's father worked a variety of occupations that needed him to traverse the county during McCutcheon's formative years. McCutcheon, a student at Purdue University, shared a room with comedian George Ade. He authored a satirical serial novel about life on the Wabash River while serving as editor of the Lafayette Daily Courier newspaper during his college years. Despite the fact that the first book in the Graustark series was released in 1901, McCutcheon rejected the label Romantic and sought to be known for his playwriting. He passed away in Manhattan, New York City, New York, and was the older brother of renowned cartoonist John T. McCutcheon. The Golden Age of Indiana Literature is thought to have included McCutcheon.
