Page images
PDF
EPUB

EDWARD EVERETT HALE. 1822

One of the most prolific and popular writers of America is the Rev. Edward Everett Hale, who was born in Boston in 1822, was educated at Harvard, and has for many years been pastor of the South Congregational Church of his native city. His works are chiefly fictitious and historical. Among the former may be named-In His Name, If, Yes, and Perhaps, The Ingham Papers, Ten Times One is Ten, Philip Nolan's Friends, etc. Some of these are collections of short stories, one of which, The Man Without a Country, is perhaps the most powerfully realistic story ever published in this country. "Ten Times One is Ten" led to the formation of the society called The King's Daughters. The historical works include-Seven Spanish Cities, The Story of Spain, The Story of Massachusetts, etc. He has also written and edited many books for boys. Though serious in purpose, his stories are pervaded by a refined humor, which renders them a perpetual source of pleasure as well as profit.

HENRY JAMES. 1843

Henry James, son of the theologian of the same name, was born in New York in 1843, and is therefore called an American, but he has resided nearly all his life in Europe. He ranks with Howells as novelist and critic, and is of the same school or fiction-the realistic, depending for the interest of the story, not on romantic situations or exciting incidents, but on minute portrayal of everyday life, bright conversations, and analysis of character and motives. Some of James's novels, like Crawford's, have been called "international," because they deal with American life in Europe, or vice versâ. Of these, The American, The European, Daisy Miller, and An International Episode, are examples. Other stories are Roderick Hudson, The Portrait of a Lady, and The Bostonians. He also wrote a Life of Hawthorne for the American Men of Letters series, and some books of essays, among them Essays in London and Partial Portraits. As an essayist he stands very high. His judgments are sound and his style clear, incisive, and every way charming.

OTHER PROSE WRITERS OF THIS AGE.

HISTORICAL.

JARED SPARKS (1794-1866), editor of American Biography, 25 vols., and author of Life of Washington, Life of Franklin, and various other works.

S. AUSTIN ALLIBONE, LL. D. (1816-1888), author of Dictionary of Authors, an immense and valuable work in three large volumes, Poetical Quotations, and Prose Quotations.

James Parton (1822-1891), a popular biographer and essayist, author of Life of Jackson, Life of Franklin, Life of Jefferson, Famous Americans, People's Book of Biography, etc.

HORACE GREELEY (1811-1872), founder of the N. Y. Tribune, a great editor and reformer, and author of The American Conflict, 2 vols., Recollections of a Busy Life, etc.

BENSON J. LOSSING (1813-1891), author of Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, History of the War of 1812, Pictorial History of the Civil War,

etc.

GEORGE TICKNOR (1791-1871), a man of wide culture, Professor in Harvard College (Longfellow's predecessor), author of History of Spanish Literature, and of the Life of Prescott.

JOHN GILMARY SHEA, LL. D. (1824-1892), author of History of Catholic Missions among the Indian Tribes, The Catholic Church in the United States, Legendary History of Ireland, etc.; also translator, editor, and compiler of many valuable works.

RICHARD HILDRETH (1807-1865), author of a valuable History of the United States, in 6 vols., 8vo.

FICTITIOUS.

MISS C. M. SEDGWICK (1789-1867), author of Hope Leslie, Redwood, and many other novels and tales.

MRS. LYDIA Maria Child (1802-1880), a prolific and popular writer, author of Frugal Housewife, The Mother's Book, The Girl's Book, Lives of Madame de Staël, Madame Roland, etc., Biography of Good Wives, Condition of Women in All Ages, Romance of the Republic, etc.

MRS. EMILY JUDSON, "Fanny Forrester" (1817-1854), third wife of Dr. Judson, the missionary, author of Alderbrook, Life of Sarah C. Judson, an Olio of Domestic Verses, and several stories for children.

JOHN ESTEN COOKв (1830-1886), an eminent Southern writer, author of The Virginia Comedians, Henry St. John, Surry of Eagle's Nest, Lives of Generals Lee and Stonewall Jackson, etc.

ROSE TERRY COOKE (1827-1892), writer of short stories portraying New England life-Stories, Somebody's Neighbors, Huckleberries Gathered from New England Hills, etc. Also author of The Two Villages and other poems.

T.S. ARTHUR (1809-1885), author of Ten Nights in a Bar-Room; Sketches of Life and Character; Lights and Shadows of Real Life; Advice to Young Men; Advice to Young Women; Maiden, Wife, and Mother, etc.

MRS. SARA J. Lippincott, "Grace Greenwood" (1823- ), a lively newspaper correspondent, and a graceful story writer, author of Greenwood Leaves, Record of Five Years, Haps and Mishaps of a Tour in Europe, Poems, etc. MRS. LOUISE CHANDLER MOULTON (1835- ), a vivacious and sparkling writer, author of This, That, and the Other, Bed-time Stories, Some Men's Wives, etc.

MISS LOUISA M. ALCOTT (1832-1888), a very popular story writer, author of Little Women, Old-Fashioned Girl, Little Men, Work, Morning Glories, etc. The sale of these books has been immense.

CAROLINE CHESEBRO (1825-1873), author of Dream of Land by Daylight, Victoria, The Foe in the Household, etc.

MRS. MARY J. HOLMES has written many popular novels and tales, among them Lena Rivers, Darkness and Daylight, Tempest and Sunshine, etc.

MRS. TERHUNE, "Marion Harland," is the author of Alone, The Hidden Path, and other popular works. She is the wife of Rev. Dr. E. P. Terhune, of Newark, N. J.

MRS. AUGUSTA EVANS WILSON is a novelist of great power and originality. Her most popular works are Beulah, Macaria, St. Elmo, and Infelice. MRS. A. D. T. WHITNEY (1824 ), a popular novelist and poetess, author of Faith Gartney's Girlhood, The Gayworthys, We Girls, etc.

MRS. MARY CLEMMER AMES, a vivacious and interesting writer, author of Eirene, His Two Wives, Memorial of Alice and Phoebe Cary, Poems, etc. Having been divorced, she resumed her maiden name, Mary Clemmer then married Mr. Hudson, and died soon after, in 1884.

J. T. TROWBRIDGE (1827- ), a novelist and poet, author of Brighthope Series, Neighbor Jackwood, Coupon Bonds, and other stories, and Poems. Some of his poems, e. g., Darius Green and the Flying Machine, The Vagabonds, The Charcoal Man, and Farmer John, have been very popular.

EDWARD EGGLESTON, D. D. (1837-1902), is the author of four very popular stories, The Hoosier Schoolmaster, The End of the World, Mystery of Metropolisville, and the Circuit Rider.

MRS. MARY A. SADLIER (1820- ), a popular Catholic writer, author of many Sunday-school books and novels. Among the latter are Alice Riordan, Blakes and Flanagans, Red Hand of Ulster, Willie Burke, etc., etc.

JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS (1846-1908), a Southern journalist and storywriter, has won a unique place in our literature by his portrayal of negro life and character. The superstitions, folk-lore, humor, and pathos of the old plantation colored servants are rendered with wonderful fidelity in the negro dialect. Some of his volumes are-Little Mr. Thimblefinger and His Queer Country, Uncle Remus and His Friends, Nights with Uncle Remus, and Sister Jane, Her Friends and Acquaintances.

), novelist and poet. Some of

HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFord (1835her best stories are-In a Cellar, Sir Rohan's Ghost, Amber Gods, Yet's Christmas Box. Among her best poems are-Hereafter, A Four o'Clock, In Summer Nights, Listening. Her latest volume of poems is In Titian's Garden. AMELIA E. BARR, a Scotch-American novelist, author of Border Shepherdess, Daughter of Fife, Jan Vedder's Wife, A Knight of the Nets, and many other stories.

REBECCA HARDING DAVIS (1831- ), author of Life in the Iron Mills, Waiting for the Verdict, Margaret Howth, Doctor Warrick's Daughters, Frances Waldeaux (1897), etc.

POLITICAL AND SCIENTIFIC.

CHARLES SUMNER (1811-1874), late Senator from Massachusetts, a profound scholar, pure statesman, great orator, and champion of freedom. Author of The True Grandeur of Nations, The Barbarism of Slavery, and other great orations and speeches.

DR. JOHN W. DRAPER (1811-1882), Prof. of Chemistry in the University of New York, author of History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, History of the American Civil War, The Conflict of Science and Religion, and of many scientific works.

HON. GEORGE P. MARSH (1801-1882), author of Lectures on the English Language, History of the English Language, and Man and Nature. His works on Language are among the most valuable ever written.

W. D. WHITNEY, LL.D. (1827-1894), Prof. in Yale College, one of the best oriental scholars of the age, author of Language and the Science of Language, a very valuable work.

ALEXANDER H. EVERETT (1792-1847), brother of Edward Everett, a statesman and diplomatist, author of State of Europe, State of America, etc.

FRANCIS WAYLAND, D. D., LL.D. (1796-1865), President of Brown University, author of Moral Science, Intellectual Philosophy, Political Economy, etc.

JAMES MCCOSH, D. D., LL.D. (1811-1894), President of Princeton Col lege, one of the greatest living metaphysicians, author of the Method o Divine Government, The Intuitions of the Mind, Mill's Philosophy, Logic, Christianity and Positivism, and other works. He is a Scotchman; came to this country in 1868.

HORACE MANN (1796-1859), a distinguished educator, author of Lectures on Education, Report of an Educational Tour in Germany, Great Britain, etc., A Few Thoughts for a Young Man on Entering Life, and other works.

PHILIP SCHAFF, D. D. (1819-1893), author of America, Germany, History of the Christian Church, The Renaissance: the Revival of Learning in the 14th and 15th Centuries, Studies on the English Language, etc.

CHARLES P. KRAUTH, D. D. (1823-1883), Prof. of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy in the University of Pennsylvania, author of The Conservative Reformation, Sketch of the Thirty Years' War, etc.

CRITICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS.

MARGARET FULLER, Countess d'Ossoli (1810-1850), a brilliant writer on art and literature. She was drowned, with husband and child, on her way home from Italy.

HENRY REED, LL. D. (1808-1854), Professor in the University of Pennsylvania, editor of Wordsworth's Works, etc., and author of four volumes of delightful lectures on English Poets, English Literature, and English History as Illustrated by Shakspeare's Historical Plays.

RUFUS W. GRISWOLD, D. D. (1815-1857), author of Female Poets of America, Prose Writers of America, and Poets and Poetry of America,

DUYCKINCK Brothers, (E. A., 1816-1878; G. L., 1823-1863), authors of a very valuable work, Cyclopædia of American Literature (recently revised by Mr. Simon).

MISS MARY ABIGAIL DODGE, "Gail Hamilton" (1838-1897), a piquant and original writer, author of A New Atmosphere, Gala Days, Country Living. GEO. W. CURTIS (1824-1892), the genial editor of Harper's Monthly and Harper's Weekly, author of Nile Notes of a Howadji, The Potiphar Papers, Frue and I, Trumps, etc.

MRS. LYDIA H. SIGOURNEY (1791-1865), a noble woman and excellent writer both of poetry and prose. Author of Letters to Young Ladies, Letters to My Pupils, Letters to Mothers, Past Meridian, Letters of Life, etc., prose works; and Indian Names, Death of an Infant, etc., poems.

DONALD G. MITCHELL, "Ik Marvel" (1822- ), a genial, graceful wr ter, author of Dream Life, Reveries of a Bachelor, My Farm at Edgewood, Seven Stories, etc.

"FANNY FERN," Mrs. Jas. Parton (1811-1872), a witty and spicy writer of sketches and tales, author of Fern Leaves, Little Ferns, Folly as it Flies, Ginger Snaps, etc., made up of short sketches; also two novels, Ruth Hall and Rose Clark.

ORESTES A. BROWNSON, LL. D. (1803–1876), a vigorous and brilliant Catholic writer, editor of Brownson's Quarterly, author of Charles Elwood, or the Infidel Converted; The Covenant, or Leaves from My Experience, etc.

HENRY WARD BEECHER (1813-1887), author of Star Papers, Eyes and Ears, Yale Lectures on Preaching, and several volumes of Sermons.

HENRY D. THOREAU (1817-1862), a thoughtful recluse of Cambridge, Mass., who lived in close communion with Nature and wrote delightful descriptions of natural phenomena, interspersed with wise reflection and beautiful sentiments. His works fill eleven volumes-Walden, Excursions in Field and Forest, The Maine Woods, Cape Cod, etc.

WILLIAM WETMORE STORY, D. C. L. (1819-1895), son of Justice Story, lawyer, poet, essayist, sculptor, author of several law treatises, Life and Letters of Joseph Story, Roba di Roma, Conversations in a Studio, Excursions in Art and Letters, and several volumes of poems. The dramatic poem, A Roman Lawyer in Jerusalem, is one of the strongest.

« PreviousContinue »