
author
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.

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

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

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells

by William Dean Howells
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.