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My Literary Passions

By William Dean Howells
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Essays, Letters & Speeches

About This Book

A series of personal essays and bibliographical sketches in which the author revisits formative reading experiences and outlines lasting literary preferences. He mixes autobiography with criticism, offering assessments of numerous writers — such as Goldsmith, Cervantes, Irving, Dickens, Thackeray, Shakespeare, George Eliot, Tolstoy, and Zola — and reflects on the tensions between realism and romanticism in fiction. Throughout, he balances anecdote and analysis, discusses the aims of criticism and the art of fiction, and describes the practical contours of a private bookcase and a life shaped by books. The tone remains candid and reflective, alternating admiration with corrective judgment.

About the Author

Howells, William Dean portrait

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.

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