Joseph Jay Deiss (1912–1999), an American author, businessman, historian and archaeologist, was born in Twin Falls, Idaho and graduated from the University of Texas, where he also received his Masters.
With the proceeds from his first successful novel, Washington Story, he purchased the "Oysterman's Cottage" at Wellfleet, Massachusetts, mentioned by Henry David Thoreau in "Cape Cod Sketches".
While Deiss was involved in his biographical novel of Frederic the Second, he was drawn to the ancient monument cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii, spending time there since they were near his home in Positano.
[6] On becoming Vice Director of the American Academy in Rome, he actively started exploring these ancient cities.
The eclectic interests of Deiss in historical Italy finally led to his The Roman Years of Margaret Fuller.