William Dean Howells's warm, intimate portrait of Mark Twain begins with their first meeting in Boston and grows into a lifelong friendship marked by laughter, admiration, and repeated visits in Hartford and New York. Twain emerges as a dazzling presence: theatrically dressed, mischievous, endlessly talkative, and yet rooted in a boyish originality that made his humor feel inseparable from deeper wisdom. Howells moves through literary gatherings with Fields, Aldrich, Bret Harte, and Ralph ...

If you were looking for the definitive Christmas anthology, consider yourself lucky, because you just found it! This book is everything you want Christmas to be — loving, warm and celebratory. Timeless and adorable, beautifully designed, "The Big Book of Christmas" is a great big stocky book — stuffed with novels, novellas, short stories, poems, carols and songs. Inside you'll find: · Novels, novellas and short stories from Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Hans Christian Andersen, O. He...

The Marches, married twenty-five years, take the European tour they could not afford as newlyweds — the ship, the Rhine, Carlsbad, a young couple in trouble whom they cannot help minding about. Howells edited The Atlantic and wrote for Harper's, and was the most powerful literary broker in America; here he does middle age exactly, and the kindness of the book is not softness.

An Ohio family — a judge, his wife, and a daughter recovering from an unsuitable attachment — is taken to Europe to get over it, and the Atlantic and the Dutch canals do not much help. Howells edited The Atlantic and was the most powerful literary broker in America; this 1902 novel is his quiet study of ordinary decent people being wrong about their own children, and the father is beautifully done.

A middle-aged American in Florence, comfortable and finished with life, is courted by a girl of twenty and by her chaperone, who is his own age — and behaves badly, then better, then badly again. Howells edited The Atlantic and was the most powerful literary broker in America; this 1886 novel is his lightest and his best, and the humiliation of a man discovering he is not young is done with no cruelty at all.

The story is set in New York City during the late 19th century and follows the lives of various characters, both native-born and immigrants, as they navigate the complexities of American society and strive for success. The central narrative focuses on the clash of social classes and the challenges faced by those attempting to climb the social and economic ladder."A Hazard of New Fortunes" is known for its detailed character studies and social commentary. It explores themes such as capitali...

New York City. The dawn of a new century. Two men intent on changing the world with two very different visions.When a self-made millionaire and a new-age social revolutionary come head-to-head, there's no telling who will come out on top. One wants the world. The other wants to give it to those less fortunate. And when a goodwill man steps in to act as mediator, he soon finds himself at a crisis of conscience. How should man choose who wins and loses? What is the best approach for ...

My earliest memories, or those which I can make sure are not the sort of early hearsay that we mistake for remembrance later in life, concern a country newspaper, or, rather, a country printing-office. The office was in my childish consciousness some years before the paper was; the compositors rhythmically swaying before their cases of type; the pressman flinging himself back on the bar that made the impression, with a swirl of his long hair; the apprentice rolling the forms, and the forem...

Key themes explored in "The Rise of Silas Lapham" include:Wealth and Social Status: The novel delves into the impact of newfound wealth on individuals' aspirations and interactions with established social hierarchies.Business and Ethics: The Lapham family's journey raises questions about the moral implications of business decisions and the pursuit of wealth.Family Dynamics: The relationships within the Lapham family are tested as they navigate societal expectations and personal ambitions.R...

"Their Wedding Journey" is a humorous and satirical novel that follows the newlywed couple, Kenyon and Ellen, on their honeymoon trip through Europe. The novel explores their experiences, observations, and interactions with fellow travelers as they navigate the challenges and pleasures of travel in Europe.One of the central themes of the novel is the contrast between the idealized expectations and the reality of the honeymoon journey. Howells uses the characters of Kenyon and Ellen to sati...

In "Their Silver Wedding Journey," Kenyon and Ellen celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary by embarking on a journey to revisit some of the places they traveled to during their honeymoon in Europe, as depicted in the earlier novel. This sequel explores how their lives and relationship have evolved over the years.The novel is written in a humorous and satirical style, similar to its predecessor. It reflects on the changes in American society, culture, and politics since the time of their ...

The novel "A Foregone Conclusion" is a story that revolves around the experiences of an American artist named Kenyon, who travels to Italy. In Italy, Kenyon becomes involved with a circle of characters, including a group of artists and various personalities within Italian society.The narrative explores themes such as art, culture, love, and personal relationships against the backdrop of Italian society. Kenyon's interactions and experiences with the diverse characters shape his perspective...