author
Herman Knickerbocker Vielé
1856–1908
A New York writer with a flair for comedy, travel, and old-family legend, he moved easily between engineering, art, and literature. His work often carries the feel of a well-told tale from another age.
1 Audiobook
On the Lightship
by Herman Knickerbocker Vielé
About the author
Born in New York City on January 31, 1856, Herman Knickerbocker Vielé came from a family deeply connected to public life and writing. His father, Egbert Ludovicus Viele, was a Union officer and later a U.S. representative, and his mother, Teresa Griffin Viele, was also an author. Before becoming known for fiction, he studied engineering and also pursued art, including time in Paris.
Vielé built a varied career as a novelist, short story writer, and poet. His books include The Last of the Knickerbockers, Heartbreak Hill, and The Inn of the Silver Moon. The mix of titles associated with him suggests a writer drawn to romance, humor, and stories shaped by history, travel, and family tradition.
He died in Manhattan on December 14, 1908, at the age of 52. Though not widely read today, he remains an interesting figure from the literary world of turn-of-the-century New York: a writer whose background in engineering and art gave his work an unusually broad cultural range.