Arlo Bates

Born in East Machias, Maine, in 1850, Arlo Bates built a wide-ranging literary career as an author, editor, and teacher. After graduating from Bowdoin College in 1876, he moved into Boston literary life and worked in journalism, eventually becoming editor of the Boston Courier.

Bates published poetry, novels, essays, and criticism, and he was known for moving comfortably across genres rather than staying in just one lane. Alongside his writing, he taught English at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for many years, helping shape students' reading and literary taste as well as contributing to American letters himself.

He died in 1918, but his career still offers a vivid picture of a period when authors often worked as critics, newspaper people, and public intellectuals all at once. For listeners exploring older American literature, he is an interesting guide to the literary culture of his time.