Howells, William Dean

Howells, William Dean,1837–1920, American novelist, critic, and editor, b. Martins Ferry, Ohio. Both in his own novels and in his critical writing, Howells was a champion of realism in American literature. His education was gained by voracious reading as he worked for his father, a printer in various small towns in Ohio. Howells early turned to writing and to editorial work on theOhio State Journal(1856–61). He wrote a campaign biography of Lincoln in 1860 and was given an appointment as consul in Venice in 1861. The first of his many travel books,Venetian Life(1866) andItalian Journey(1867), brought popular success and recognition. After his return to the United States in 1865, he worked for various periodicals. Settling in Boston, he was associated withThe Atlanticfor 15 years and later wrote theEditor's Study(1886–91) and the简单的椅子(1900–1920) forHarper's Magazine.

His first novels,Their Wedding Journey(1872),The Lady of the Aroostook(1879), and others, were moralistic comedies of manners that aroused only mild interest. However, when he turned to realism withA Modern Instance(1882) andThe Rise of Silas Lapham(1885), he became a leading novelist. In these two books, which are regarded as his major achievements, Howells portrayed with minute detail characters attempting to solve lifelike problems, often arising from social distinctions. His unromantic love story,Indian Summer(1886), was also highly popular. Howells' critical essays on the works of such realistic European writers as托尔斯泰,Zola, andIbsenhelped to mold American taste, and he was a literary mentor to MarkTwain, HamlinGarland, ThorsteinVeblen, and StephenCrane.

From the late 1880s on Howells spent much of his time New York City. During these years he became more and more concerned with social conflict and the problems of industrialization. Socialist thought is apparent in his novelsA Hazard of New Fortunes(1890),The Quality of Mercy(1892), andAn Imperative Duty(1893), and even more forthright in his utopian works,A Traveler from Altruria(1894) andThrough the Eye of the Needle(1907). He was an amazingly prolific author; besides his many novels he wrote plays ranging from blank verse tragedy to farce; critical works; several volumes of reminiscence; and short stories. The most notable of his critical volumes isCriticism and Fiction(1891). His books of reminiscences includeA Boy's Town(1890),My Year in a Log Cabin(1893),Impressions and Experiences(1896),Literary Friends and Acquaintances(1900),My Mark Twain(1910), andYears of My Youth(1916).

See his life in letters (ed. by his daughter, Mildred Howells, 1928); biographies by E. H. Cady (2 vol., 1956–58, repr. 1986), K. S. Lynn (1972), and S. Goodman and C. Dawson (2005); studies by E. H. Cady (1956 and 1958, both repr. 1986) and as ed. with L. J. Budd (1993), G. N. Bennett (1973), K. E. Eble (1982), J. W. Crowley (1985 and 1999), and P. Abeln (2004); bibliography by V. J. Brenni (1973).

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