William Dean Howells

author

William Dean Howells

1837–1920

A leading voice of American realism, he wrote sharply observed novels about everyday life and helped shape the literary culture of the late 1800s. As an editor and critic, he also encouraged writers such as Henry James and Sarah Orne Jewett while building a reputation as the “Dean of American Letters.”

111 Audiobooks

The Rise of Silas Lapham

The Rise of Silas Lapham

by William Dean Howells

My Mark Twain

by William Dean Howells

The Whole Family: a Novel by Twelve Authors

The Whole Family: a Novel by Twelve Authors

by Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews, John Kendrick Bangs, Alice Brown, Mary Stewart Cutting, Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman, William Dean Howells, Henry James, Elizabeth Garver Jordan, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Henry Van Dyke, Mary Heaton Vorse, Edith Wyatt

Between the Dark and the Daylight

Between the Dark and the Daylight

by William Dean Howells

A Modern Instance

A Modern Instance

by William Dean Howells

Stories Of Ohio

Stories Of Ohio

by William Dean Howells

April Hopes

April Hopes

by William Dean Howells

Literature and Life (Complete)

Literature and Life (Complete)

by William Dean Howells

Venetian Life

Venetian Life

by William Dean Howells

A Traveler from Altruria: Romance

A Traveler from Altruria: Romance

by William Dean Howells

Italian Journeys

Italian Journeys

by William Dean Howells

Henry James, Jr.

Henry James, Jr.

by William Dean Howells

A Pair of Patient Lovers

A Pair of Patient Lovers

by William Dean Howells

Indian Summer

Indian Summer

by William Dean Howells

Criticism and Fiction

Criticism and Fiction

by William Dean Howells

The Coast of Bohemia

The Coast of Bohemia

by William Dean Howells

Annie Kilburn : a Novel

Annie Kilburn : a Novel

by William Dean Howells

Boy Life

Boy Life

by William Dean Howells

Familiar Spanish Travels

by William Dean Howells

The World of Chance

The World of Chance

by William Dean Howells

The Entire March Family Trilogy

by William Dean Howells

The Sleeping-Car: A Farce

The Sleeping-Car: A Farce

by William Dean Howells

A Little Swiss Sojourn

A Little Swiss Sojourn

by William Dean Howells

Ragged Lady — Complete

Ragged Lady — Complete

by William Dean Howells

My Literary Passions

My Literary Passions

by William Dean Howells

The Quality of Mercy

by William Dean Howells

Imaginary Interviews

Imaginary Interviews

by William Dean Howells

The Leatherwood God

The Leatherwood God

by William Dean Howells

Bride Roses

by William Dean Howells

Questionable Shapes

Questionable Shapes

by William Dean Howells

Emile Zola

Emile Zola

by William Dean Howells

Suburban Sketches

Suburban Sketches

by William Dean Howells

London Films

London Films

by William Dean Howells

Dr. Breen's Practice

Dr. Breen's Practice

by William Dean Howells

The Story of a Play

The Story of a Play

by William Dean Howells

A Chance Acquaintance

A Chance Acquaintance

by William Dean Howells

The Lady of the Aroostook

The Lady of the Aroostook

by William Dean Howells

Roman Holidays, and Others

Roman Holidays, and Others

by William Dean Howells

A Foregone Conclusion

A Foregone Conclusion

by William Dean Howells

Ragged Lady — Volume 2

Ragged Lady — Volume 2

by William Dean Howells

Seven English Cities

Seven English Cities

by William Dean Howells

The Flight of Pony Baker

The Flight of Pony Baker

by William Dean Howells

Ragged Lady — Volume 1

Ragged Lady — Volume 1

by William Dean Howells

The Kentons

The Kentons

by William Dean Howells

The Daughter of the Storage

The Daughter of the Storage

by William Dean Howells

A Confession of St. Augustine

A Confession of St. Augustine

by William Dean Howells

Buying a Horse

Buying a Horse

by William Dean Howells

The Parlor Car

The Parlor Car

by William Dean Howells

The Elevator

The Elevator

by William Dean Howells

Years of My Youth

Years of My Youth

by William Dean Howells

A Boy's Town

by William Dean Howells

Fennel and Rue

Fennel and Rue

by William Dean Howells

Evening Dress

Evening Dress

by William Dean Howells

Five O'Clock Tea: Farce

by William Dean Howells

Mrs. Farrell

Mrs. Farrell

by William Dean Howells

Poems

Poems

by William Dean Howells

Impressions and experiences

Impressions and experiences

by William Dean Howells

A Likely Story

A Likely Story

by William Dean Howells

The Register

The Register

by William Dean Howells

The Albany Depot : a Farce

The Albany Depot : a Farce

by William Dean Howells

Their Wedding Journey

Their Wedding Journey

by William Dean Howells

The Garotters

The Garotters

by William Dean Howells

About the author

Born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, on March 1, 1837, William Dean Howells grew up in a family connected to printing and newspapers. He began working early as a typesetter and reporter, and that hands-on start in journalism stayed with him throughout his career, giving his fiction its clear, grounded feel.

Howells became one of the best-known champions of literary realism in the United States. He served as editor of The Atlantic Monthly and used that role to support important writers of his time, including Henry James and Sarah Orne Jewett. His best-known books include The Rise of Silas Lapham, A Modern Instance, Indian Summer, and A Traveler from Altruria.

Readers often turn to Howells for novels that pay close attention to ordinary lives, social ambition, and moral choices. He died in New York City on May 11, 1920, but his influence lasted well beyond his lifetime, both through his own books and through the writers he helped bring forward.