author
Herman Knickerbocker Vielé
1856–1908
A versatile late-19th-century American writer, he moved easily between novels, short stories, poetry, and the worlds of art and engineering. His life linked old New York family history with a wide-ranging literary career.
1 Audiobook
On the Lightship
by Herman Knickerbocker Vielé
About the author
Born in New York City on January 31, 1856, Herman Knickerbocker Vielé was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet. He came from a notably accomplished family: his father, Egbert Ludovicus Viele, was a civil engineer, soldier, and congressman, and his mother, Teresa Griffin Viele, was also an author.
Vielé's career was broader than his literary reputation alone suggests. Sources describe him not only as a writer but also as a civil engineer and artist, which helps explain the range of interests reflected in his life and work. He published fiction, verse, and other writing during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
He died in Manhattan on December 14, 1908, at the age of 52. Though not as widely remembered today as some of his contemporaries, he remains an interesting figure for readers drawn to overlooked American authors and the literary culture of his era.