William Dean Howells Novel Writing And Novel Reading
William Dean Howells was an American novelist, literary critic, and editor born on March 1, 1837. He was considered as one of the most influential writers of his time and was often referred to as the "Dean of American Letters." Howells was also known for his contribution to the development of realism in American literature.
Early Life and Career
Howells was born in Martinsville, Ohio, and was the second child of eight. His father was a newspaper editor and printer, and his mother was a devout Methodist. Howells was largely self-educated and started working as a typesetter at the age of nine. He later became a reporter and eventually an editor of the Ohio State Journal.
In 1860, Howells published his first novel, The Minister's Wooing, which was a romantic novel set in New England during the Revolutionary War. The book was well-received and established Howells as a writer.
Realism in American Literature
Howells was a strong advocate of realism in American literature. He believed that literature should reflect the reality of life, including its social and economic issues. Howells felt that literature should be accessible to everyone and not just the elite.
Howells wrote many articles and essays on the subject of realism and was influential in promoting the works of other realist writers such as Mark Twain and Henry James. He also wrote his own realistic novels, including A Modern Instance (1882) and The Rise of Silas Lapham (1885).
Novel Writing
Howells believed that the novel should be a reflection of life as it is lived. He felt that the novel should be a realistic portrayal of society and should deal with social issues such as poverty, inequality, and injustice. Howells was also interested in the psychology of his characters and believed that a novel should be a psychological study of human behavior.
Howells was known for his attention to detail and his ability to create believable characters. He would spend a great deal of time researching the settings and backgrounds of his novels to ensure that they were accurate and realistic.
Novel Reading
Howells was also an advocate of novel reading. He believed that novels were an important form of entertainment and education. Howells felt that novels could teach people about the world and help them to understand the complexities of society.
Howells believed that novels should be widely available and affordable. He was involved in the development of the first public library in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was one of the first writers to embrace the idea of serialized novels in magazines, which made them more accessible to a wider audience.
Legacy
William Dean Howells was a prolific writer and a major figure in American literary history. He was a leading advocate of realism in American literature and played an important role in the development of the novel as a literary form.
Howells' legacy can be seen in the works of many later writers who were influenced by his ideas, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and John Steinbeck. Howells' commitment to realistic portrayals of society and his advocacy of novel reading continue to be relevant today.
Conclusion
William Dean Howells was a major figure in American literature and an influential advocate of realism. His commitment to realistic portrayals of society and his advocacy of novel reading continue to be relevant today. Howells' legacy can be seen in the works of many later writers and his ideas continue to shape the way that we think about literature and society.