Authors at home: Personal and biographical sketches of well-known American writers

This volume offers a collection of personal portraits that take listeners inside the homes and daily lives of some of America’s most celebrated writers. Each sketch was commissioned by the writer himself, allowing a close friend or colleague to share anecdotes that reveal both the public achievements and private quirks of the author. Originally appearing in a literary magazine, the pieces retain a conversational tone that feels like a friendly tour through a well‑kept study or garden.

Readers hear vivid scenes such as the Beacon Hill office of Thomas Bailey Aldrich, where a mischievous incident with a speaking‑tube illustrates his dry humor, and the rustic retreats of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe that echo their larger narratives. The contributors, ranging from fellow journalists to family members, add color with details of favorite books, cherished possessions, and the simple rituals that shaped the writers’ work. Though several of the subjects have since passed, the sketches preserve their personalities for a new generation of listeners.