W. D. Howells (1837-1920).

William Dean Howells, a consistent and uncompromising representative of the claims of realism, is recognized as easily the foremost American novelist of his generation. The publication, with John J. Piatt, of “Poems of Two Friends” (1860) marked the beginning of his career. “Venetian Life” (1866) and “Italian Journeys” (1867) were the fruit of foreign residence. A vivacious novel "Their Wedding Journey” (1871) added to the reputation already gained by the two Italian books, and this was increased by “A Chance Acquaintance” (1873) and “A Foregone Conclusion” (1874). Mr. Howells is the author of more than thirty volumes, mainly works of fiction. Of these “A Modern Instance” (1882), “The Rise of Silas Lapham” (1884), “Indian Summer” (1885), and “A Hazard of New Fortunes” (1889) have probably aroused widest interest. Howells's literary workmanship is deserving of the highest praise. He is minutely conscientious in his studies of character and incident, insisting upon careful observation and an honest report. His theory of literary art is set forth in an interesting essay “Criticism and Fiction” (1891). After 1881, the novelist was associated editorially with various periodicals, including Harper's Magazine. While fiction predominates in his published writings, he also wrote a number of humorous parlor plays, several volumes of essays upon literary themes, and not a small amount of very charming verse.

Henry James (1843-1916).

Henry James, a native of New York, is properly denominated an American writer, although after 1869 he made his home in England. His novels are usually associated with those of Howells as exemplifying the best work of the American realists. In James's narratives we find the extreme application of realistic theory along with an analysis of character and motive wonderfully minute. His novels and short stories are psychological studies for the most part, and have a comparatively small audience among American readers. As the novelist was at one time fond of presenting studies of his countrymen as they sometimes appear in Europe, in the environment of a superior culture, his work often aroused protest rather than favor here. Such was the reception given to “Daisy Miller” (1878). Others of the novels which are eminently characteristic of this author are “An International Episode” (1879), “The Bostonians” (1886), “The Princess Casamassima” (1886), “The Tragic Muse” (1890), “What Maisie Knew” (1897), and “The Ambassadors” (1903). It is in the craftsmanship and structure of his narratives that James commands most general admiration; this artistic skill, along with his keen wit and general brilliance of style, may be most advantageously studied in some of the short stories, -- which constitute a large portion of his fiction, -- as, for example, in “Terminations” (1896) or “The Private Life and Other Stories” (1893).

Francis Marion Crawford (1854-1909), most cosmopolitan of American writers, both in residence and in the material utilized in his novels, was also one of the most productive of the novelists. His first novel “Mr. Isaacs” appeared in 1882, and was followed by “Dr. Claudius” (1883), “A Roman Singer” (1884), “Zoroaster” (1885), and “A Tale of a Lonely Parish” (1886). The variety of sources from which Mr. Crawford drew his material is strikingly suggested in the titles of his representative novels, of which the following may be mentioned: “Paul Patoff” (1887), “Saracinesca” (1887), “In the Palace of the King” (1900), “A Lady of Rome” (1906), “Arethusa” (1907). He was the author of more than forty books, including important studies of Italian history and several plays. Of his novels it is conceded that those depicting Italian life and character are the most valuable; and of these, three, constituting the “Saracinesca” series, are the best.

Edith Wharton (1862-1937), an American author who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Age of Innocence” (1920).

Set in 1870's New York City, Wharton examines upper-class values and morals in all their conventionality and tradition, rigidity and hypocrisy, at times with her subtle irony and wit. Edith Wharton herself broke out of the conventional mores of her time to become the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Wharton had a great love of architecture, gardens and design and wrote numerous articles and essays on the subjects including “Italian Villas and Their Gardens” (1904). As the author of numerous best-selling award-winning works including novels, short stories, and travel essays she has inspired many other authors. Some of her works have been adapted to the stage and film and many are still in print today.

Her other publications include collection of short stories “The Greater Inclination” (1899), “Crucial Instances” (1901), “The Descent of Man and Other Stories” (1904), “The Hermit and the Wild Woman” (1908), “Xingu and Other Stories” (1917), and “The World Over” (1936). She also wrote ghost stories collected in “Tales of Men and Ghosts” (1910), “Here and Beyond” (1926), and “Ghosts” (1937), many previously appearing in magazines. Her next novels were “The Valley of Decision” (1902) and “Sanctuary” (1903). The same year she met Henry James, who would become a good friend and confidante. “House of Mirth” (1905) became that years’ best-seller. “Madame de Treymes” (1907) was followed by “The Fruit of the Tree” (1907)

Familiar themes of Wharton’s are seen in “Ethan Frome” including the conflict between societal mores and the pursuit of happiness. “The Reef” (1912) follows four Americans in France and is full of suspense and Wharton’s masterful character developments. It was followed by another highly acclaimed work “The Custom of the Country” (1913) which satirically examines America’s nouveau riche class in all their desperate and at times greedy ruthlessness.

When World War I began Wharton was in North Africa, but soon devoted much of her time in assisting refugees and orphans in France and Belgium. She helped raise funds for their support, and was involved with creating and running hostels and schools for them. She aided women in self-sufficiency by finding them means of employment. With her good friend Walter Berry she toured battlefields and hospitals and tended to the sick which resulted in her diary and essays in “Fighting France” (1915) and “The Marne” (1918).

“The Bunner Sisters” and “Summer” (1917) were published as Wharton’s classic contributions to women’s literature. Also in 1917 she traveled to Morocco of which she wrote about in her collection of travel essays “In Morocco” (1920). Her collection of essays “French Ways and Their Meaning” (1919) was followed by “The Age of Innocence” (1920). In 1921 Wharton sailed to America to receive the Pulitzer Prize for it. Her highly acclaimed “The Glimpses of the Moon” (1922) was followed by “A Son At The Front” (1923). Further works include “Old New York” (1924), “The Mother’s Recompense” (1925), “The Writing of Fiction” (essays, 1925), “Twelve Poems” (1926), “Twilight Sleep” (1927), “The Children” (1928), “Hudson River Bracketed” (1929) and it’s sequel “The Gods Arrive” (1932), “Certain People” (1930), “Human Nature” (1933), and “A Backward Glance” (autobiography, 1934).

In her stories and novels, Edith Wharton (1862–1937) scrutinized the upper-class, Eastern-seaboard society in which she had grown up. One of her finest books “The Age of Innocence” centers on a man who chooses to marry a conventional, socially acceptable woman rather than a fascinating outsider.

Stephen Crane (1871-1900) – an American journalist, poet, and author who wrote “The Red Badge of Courage: an episode of the American Civil War” (1895).

For many years he had been writing, but his first novel, which he published himself “Maggie, a Girl of the Streets: a Story of New York” (1893) was unsuccessful. The grim story of a prostitute and tenement life did however gain the notice of editor and author William Dean Howells.

After school Crane began writing sketches and short stories for newspapers, living in New York's bowery district. Started as a serial, “The Red Badge of Courage” gained Crane almost instant fame and the esteem. Crane's ensuing travels inspired further works including "The Black Riders and Other Lines" (1895), "The Little Regiment" (1896), "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky" (1897), The Third Violet (1897), "The Blue Hotel" (1898), "War Is Kind" (1899), “The Monster and Other Stories” (1899), “Active Service” (1899), and, said to be his finest short work, "The Open Boat" (1898), a fictionalised account of his own harrowing experience adrift in a boat.