William Dean Howells

author

William Dean Howells

1837–1920

A leading voice of American realism, he brought sharp social observation and everyday life to the page. Best known for The Rise of Silas Lapham and his influential editorship of The Atlantic Monthly, he helped shape American literature in the late nineteenth century.

110 Audiobooks

A Modern Instance

A Modern Instance

by William Dean Howells

Criticism and Fiction

Criticism and Fiction

by William Dean Howells

The Lady of the Aroostook

The Lady of the Aroostook

by William Dean Howells

A Traveler from Altruria: Romance

A Traveler from Altruria: Romance

by William Dean Howells

Literature and Life (Complete)

Literature and Life (Complete)

by William Dean Howells

Impressions and experiences

Impressions and experiences

by William Dean Howells

The Rise of Silas Lapham

The Rise of Silas Lapham

by William Dean Howells

Between the Dark and the Daylight

Between the Dark and the Daylight

by William Dean Howells

The Leatherwood God

The Leatherwood God

by William Dean Howells

Familiar Spanish Travels

Familiar Spanish Travels

by William Dean Howells

Indian Summer

Indian Summer

by William Dean Howells

A Pair of Patient Lovers

A Pair of Patient Lovers

by William Dean Howells

London Films

London Films

by William Dean Howells

April Hopes

April Hopes

by William Dean Howells

The Whole Family: a Novel by Twelve Authors

The Whole Family: a Novel by Twelve Authors

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

A Little Swiss Sojourn

A Little Swiss Sojourn

by William Dean Howells

Suburban Sketches

Suburban Sketches

by William Dean Howells

The Story of a Play A Novel

The Story of a Play A Novel

by William Dean Howells

Ragged Lady — Volume 2

Ragged Lady — Volume 2

by William Dean Howells

A Likely Story

A Likely Story

by William Dean Howells

Their Wedding Journey

Their Wedding Journey

by William Dean Howells

The Parlor Car

The Parlor Car

by William Dean Howells

The Coast of Bohemia

The Coast of Bohemia

by William Dean Howells

Roman Holidays, and Others

Roman Holidays, and Others

by William Dean Howells

The Kentons

The Kentons

by William Dean Howells

A Foregone Conclusion

A Foregone Conclusion

by William Dean Howells

Buying a Horse

Buying a Horse

by William Dean Howells

The Entire March Family Trilogy

The Entire March Family Trilogy

by William Dean Howells

The Albany Depot : a Farce

The Albany Depot : a Farce

by William Dean Howells

Venetian Life

Venetian Life

by William Dean Howells

Annie Kilburn : a Novel

Annie Kilburn : a Novel

by William Dean Howells

A Chance Acquaintance

A Chance Acquaintance

by William Dean Howells

Seven English Cities

Seven English Cities

by William Dean Howells

Henry James, Jr.

Henry James, Jr.

by William Dean Howells

Dr. Breen's Practice

Dr. Breen's Practice

by William Dean Howells

Bride Roses

Bride Roses

by William Dean Howells

Ragged Lady — Volume 1

Ragged Lady — Volume 1

by William Dean Howells

The Quality of Mercy

The Quality of Mercy

by William Dean Howells

Fennel and Rue

Fennel and Rue

by William Dean Howells

My Literary Passions

My Literary Passions

by William Dean Howells

Ragged Lady — Complete

Ragged Lady — Complete

by William Dean Howells

A Confession of St. Augustine

A Confession of St. Augustine

by William Dean Howells

The Register

The Register

by William Dean Howells

Italian Journeys

Italian Journeys

by William Dean Howells

Emile Zola

Emile Zola

by William Dean Howells

The Sleeping-Car: A Farce

The Sleeping-Car: A Farce

by William Dean Howells

Mrs. Farrell

Mrs. Farrell

by William Dean Howells

Stories Of Ohio

Stories Of Ohio

by William Dean Howells

Five O'Clock Tea: Farce

Five O'Clock Tea: Farce

by William Dean Howells

The World of Chance

The World of Chance

by William Dean Howells

Questionable Shapes

Questionable Shapes

by William Dean Howells

Poems

Poems

by William Dean Howells

About the author

Born on March 1, 1837, in Martinsville, Ohio, William Dean Howells began working in newspapers as a typesetter, reporter, and editor. His writing talent led to a diplomatic appointment as U.S. consul in Venice, where he drew on his experiences for Venetian Life.

After returning to the United States, Howells became editor of The Atlantic Monthly and later worked with The Nation and Harper’s Magazine. He championed literary realism and supported emerging writers, while producing novels, short stories, plays, poetry, criticism, and travel writing of his own.

His best-known works include The Rise of Silas Lapham, A Modern Instance, A Traveler from Altruria, and the enduring Christmas story “Christmas Every Day.” He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 11, 1920.