author
Maurice Francis Egan
1852–1924
A prolific man of letters who moved with ease between literature and public service, he wrote poetry, fiction, criticism, and memoir while also representing the United States abroad. His life joined Catholic intellectual culture, teaching, and diplomacy in a way that still feels distinctive.
3 Audiobooks
Confessions of a Book-Lover
by Maurice Francis Egan
A Gentleman
by Maurice Francis Egan
Ten Years Near the German Frontier: A Retrospect and a Warning
by Maurice Francis Egan
About the author
Born in Philadelphia in 1852, Maurice Francis Egan built a wide-ranging career as an American writer, literary critic, and diplomat. He was educated at La Salle and Georgetown, and became known for his work in Catholic journalism and literary culture as well as for his poetry and fiction.
Egan also taught English and literature, including posts at the University of Notre Dame and the Catholic University of America. Alongside his academic work, he published extensively, earning a reputation as a versatile and energetic author rather than a figure tied to just one genre.
Later, he served as United States minister to Denmark from 1907 to 1918. That diplomatic experience shaped one of his best-known later books, Ten Years Near the German Frontier, and rounded out a career that lasted until his death in 1924.