William Dean Howells

A prolific writer in all literary genres and, at different times, editor of the highly influential publications Atlantic and Harper's magazine, William Dean Howells (1837-1920) exerted a disproportionate influence over the development of American literature in the second half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth: hence the moniker “Dean of American literature” that is frequently applied to him. As Donna Campbell notes, “While writing the 'Editor’s Study' (1886-1892) and 'Editor’s Easy Chair' (1899-1909) for Harper’s New Monthly Magazine and occasional pieces for The North American Review, Howells championed the work of many writers, including Emily Dickinson, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, Hamlin Garland, Sarah Orne Jewett, Charles W. Chesnutt, Frank Norris, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Abraham Cahan, and Stephen Crane. He was also responsible for promoting such European authors as Ibsen, Zola, Pérez Galdós, Verga, and Tolstoy.” (n.pag.) The William Dean Howells Society makes available extensive biographical resources and full bibliographcal listings, with many full-text links.

IMAGE CREDIT:

Anon. “William Dean Howells.” Author: not stated. Date: no later than 1899.