The nickname The Dean of American Letters defined the career of a man who transitioned from a printer's devil in Ohio to the most influential literary editor in the United States. His commitment to literary realism and his public advocacy for social reform shaped the trajectory of American fiction throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Early Career and Diplomatic Service
Born in 1837 in Martins Ferry, Howells began his working life assisting his father with typesetting. By 1856, he entered politics as a clerk in the State House of Representatives before joining the Ohio State Journal. In 1860, he authored a campaign biography for Abraham Lincoln, which facilitated his appointment as a consul in Venice. While abroad, he married Elinor Mead in 1862.
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Upon returning to the United States in 1865, Howells settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He joined the editorial staff of The Atlantic Monthly in 1866, eventually serving as its editor from 1871 to 1881. His tenure at Harper's Magazine later included his Editor's Study column, where he debated contemporary social and literary issues. He championed realism, influencing writers such as Stephen Crane and Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Major Literary Contributions
Howells published his first novel, Their Wedding Journey, in 1872. His reputation as a novelist grew with the 1882 release of A Modern Instance, followed by his best-known work, The Rise of Silas Lapham, in 1885. His bibliography also included the title Pleasure-Pain, poetry collections such as Stops of Various Quills, and children's literature, including The Flight of Pony Baker.
Social Advocacy and Final Years
His concern for social justice intensified following the Haymarket affair, which informed his later novels such as A Hazard of New Fortunes. He joined the Anti-Imperialist League in 1898 to oppose the annexation of the Philippines. In 1904, he became one of the first members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He passed away in Manhattan in 1920.
Fast facts
- Born: 1837, Martins Ferry, Ohio
- Died: 1920, Manhattan
- Primary Literary Movement: Realism
- Notable Work: The Rise of Silas Lapham
- Notable Work: Pleasure-Pain
- Professional Membership: American Academy of Arts and Letters
- Burial Site: Cambridge Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was his role at The Atlantic Monthly?
He served as assistant editor starting in 1866 and became the editor from 1871 until 1881.
Did he have any involvement in politics?
He wrote a campaign biography for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, held a consulship in Venice, and joined the Anti-Imperialist League in 1898.
Achievements
- Notable work: Pleasure-Pain
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