Life of John Sterling

A detailed biographical narrative traces the life, friendships, travels, literary efforts, and declining health of John Sterling. It follows his upbringing, schooling, attempts at various professions, literary circles and associations, foreign travels and island sojourns undertaken for health, personal relationships and marriages, recurring financial and creative struggles, critical episodes of illness and disaster, and final decline and death. Interspersed are reflective assessments of his writings, personality, and the editing decisions made after his death, with contextual commentary on his social milieu and extracts from correspondence and recollections that illuminate character and temperament.