Literary Friends and Acquaintance; a Personal Retrospect of American Authorship

Name: Literary Friends and Acquaintance; a Personal Retrospect of American Authorship
Author: William Dean Howells

By William Dean Howells

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American Literature Biographies

About This Book

The author presents a series of personal reminiscences and critical sketches of the American literary scene he observed in New England and New York, combining travel impressions, portraits of individual writers, and anecdotes from social and professional encounters. He reflects on figures such as Oliver Wendell Holmes, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Russell Lowell, and Mark Twain, describing manners, conversation, and local literary culture. The pieces move between first visits, neighborhood vignettes, and longer studies that interweave memoir, critical impression, and historical recollection to portray a close-knit literary world.

About the Author

William Dean Howells

William Dean Howells (1837-1920) was an influential American author and literary critic, often regarded as the "Dean of American Letters." He is best known for his realistic portrayals of American life and society, particularly in the late 19th century. Howells's works often explore themes of social class and morality, reflecting the complexities of contemporary life. His notable novel, "A Hazard of New Fortunes," delves into the challenges faced by individuals in a rapidly changing society. Throughout his career, Howells contributed significantly to the development of realism in American literature, advocating for a more truthful representation of everyday experiences.