author
Louis How
1873–1947
A prolific American poet, translator, and biographer, he is best remembered for writing about his grandfather, the engineer James Buchanan Eads. His work ranged from poetry and translations to literary retellings, giving him a varied place in early 20th-century American letters.
1 Audiobook
James B. Eads
by Louis How
About the author
Born in 1873 and dying in 1947, Louis How was an American writer whose career stretched across several forms, including poetry, translation, and biography. He is often noted for his book on his grandfather, James B. Eads, the engineer behind the famous bridge across the Mississippi at St. Louis.
Alongside biographical writing, he published poetry collections such as Lyrics and Sonnets and was also connected with translated or adapted literary works, including The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes and His Fortunes and Adversities. That mix of original verse and literary interpretation suggests a writer with wide interests rather than a single narrow specialty.
Though he is not a household name today, his surviving works show a steady and versatile literary life. For listeners interested in older American nonfiction and poetry, he offers a glimpse into a period when authors often moved freely between history, literature, and translation.