Eleven Possible Cases

Franklin Fyles

1847–1911

A newspaperman turned playwright, he brought a sharp eye for people and a lively sense of the stage to American theater at the end of the nineteenth century. His work includes comedies and popular stage pieces from a busy era of Broadway production.

Anna Katharine Green

1846–1935

Often called one of the pioneers of detective fiction, she helped shape the mystery novel long before the genre was fully established. Her stories introduced careful plotting, memorable investigators, and the kind of clue-based suspense that later became a hallmark of crime writing.

Henry Harland

1861–1905

An American-born novelist, editor, and critic, he became a notable figure in London’s fin-de-siècle literary world. He is especially remembered for helping shape The Yellow Book, one of the era’s most distinctive magazines.

Ingersoll Lockwood

1841–1918

Best remembered today for a strange trio of late-19th-century books that later drew modern attention, this American lawyer and writer mixed fantasy, satire, and political imagination in memorable ways. His work has lingered because it feels both very of its time and unexpectedly curious to modern readers.

Joaquin Miller

1837–1913

A self-styled "Poet of the Sierras," this vivid American writer turned frontier experiences, travel, and legend into popular verse and adventure-filled prose. His larger-than-life public image helped make him one of the best-known literary personalities of his era.

Kirk Munroe

1850–1930

Adventure, the outdoors, and a strong sense of fairness run through these classic stories. Best known for writing for young readers, this American author also cared deeply about conservation and life in Florida.

Best known for practical books on public speaking, this late-19th-century teacher wrote with the clear, encouraging tone of someone who spent years helping students find their voice. His work blends classroom method with a strong belief that speaking well is a skill ordinary people can learn.

Frank R. Stockton

1834–1902

Best remembered for the classic story "The Lady, or the Tiger?", this American writer delighted readers with witty fantasy, fairy tales, and cleverly puzzling plots. His work was hugely popular in the late 19th century and still feels fresh for its playful imagination.

Maurice Thompson

1844–1901

An American poet, novelist, and essayist whose writing mixed a love of the outdoors with a feel for adventure, he became known for both his nature writing and his fiction. He was also a keen archer and one of the writers who helped bring field sports and bird life vividly onto the page.

A. C. (Andrew Carpenter) Wheeler

1835–1903

A lively 19th-century newspaper writer and humorist, he became widely known under the pen name “Nym Crinkle.” His work moved between journalism, satire, and cultural commentary, giving readers a sharp but approachable voice.