Season 9, Episode 14 - Herb Williams-Dalgart
In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, host Colin Mustful talks with Herb Williams-Dalgart, author of the novel "Jingle Boys." Set in Brooklyn during World War II, the story follows Wally Lipkin, a young man facing the draft and struggling with anxiety neurosis—a condition that could either send him to war or to a sanatorium. Herb discusses the inspiration behind Wally’s unique journey, including a real-life jingle contest that offers a chance at a safer, stateside job, and the fascinating history of music’s role in wartime. The conversation also explores Herb’s personal connection to WWII and his research process.
About the Author
Herb Williams-Dalgart is an award-winning author and screenwriter known for rich characters, sharp dialogue, and immersive historical detail. Much of his work centers on World War II, inspired by his grandfather’s service and a passion for untold stories of the era. His debut, The French Girl’s War, was a quarter-finalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award, and his latest, Jingle Boys, was a Page Turner Award Finalist. Herb holds an English degree from UC Santa Barbara, a UCLA screenwriting certificate, and studied at Birmingham University and the Shakespeare Institute. He lives in Southern California with his family and their quirky dog.
1943 — Brooklyn, New York
Jingle Boys follows Wally Lipkin, a Brooklyn piano prodigy whose incredible talent is overshadowed by a debilitating anxiety disorder that makes him faint at the worst moments. With his eighteenth birthday approaching, a draft letter from Uncle Sam looms—a potential death sentence for someone like Wally. Revealing his secret could keep him off the front lines but might also land him in a sanatorium, like his unfortunate uncle.
Desperate to escape his fate, Wally joins forces with his brother Max and their friend Frankie to enter a high-stakes radio jingle contest. Winning promises local fame, fifty dollars, and a coveted stateside government job that would allow Wally to serve his country without risking his life.
Just as their plan starts to take shape, a mesmerizing singer with a secret of her own enters their lives. Suddenly, Wally’s jingles and his choices carry consequences far beyond his own survival—they could alter the course of the war itself.
