Ruel Perley Smith (1869–1937) was an American novelist and journalist who achieved prominence in the early twentieth century. Born in Bangor, Maine, Smith built a successful career in journalism, working as a reporter in New York City. He eventually rose to key editorial positions, serving as the Night City Editor and Sunday Editor for the New York World during the 1920s.
Alongside his newspaper career, Smith was a prolific writer of children's literature. He is best remembered for The Rival Campers series, a collection of adventure books for boys published by L.C. Page & Co. of Boston. Set in his native state of Maine, the series began with The Rival Campers, or, The Adventures of Henry Burns (1905) and continued with several sequels, including The Rival Campers Afloat (1906) and Jack Harvey's Adventures (1908). The series, which concluded in the 1910s, was celebrated for its outdoor adventure themes.
In the 1920s, Smith transitioned to writing for adult audiences. In 1924, he published Prisoners of Fortune: A Tale of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, a historical pirate novel set across various locations, including Massachusetts. Beyond his own writing, Smith was connected to other creative figures; he was married to Ellen Cyr Smith, author of the popular Cyr's Readers children's textbook series, and his sister was the painter Helena Wood Smith.
