Fun Facts Friday: William Dean Howells

William Dean Howells (1  March 1837 – 11 May 1920) was a novelist, critic, and playwright. He is remembered for his novels A Traveler from Alturia and The Rise of Silas Lapham.

Books by William Dean Howells*

Fun facts about William Dean Howells:

1. William Dean Howells was born in Marinsville, OH (today Martins Ferry). He was the second of eight children born to newspaper editor William Cooper and Mary Dean Howells.
2. Eventually the family moved to Hamilton, OH and stayed there for nine years. This was the longest the family stayed in one place.
3. Young William helped his father with typesetting and printing from an early age, and in 1852 his father published one of his son’s poems without the poet’s knowledge.
4. In 1856 William Dean Howell was elected to the State House of Representatives. Two years later, whole working at the Ohio State Journal, he published short stories, poetry and began translating works from German, Spanish, and French.
5. Upon visiting Boston in 1860, he met many other literary persons, and became good friends with several including Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., and Henry Adams. That same year, he became a council in Venice, Italy.
6. Elinor Mead wed Mr. Howells at the American embassy in Paris in 1862. Elinor Mead’s family included famous sculptors and architects.
7. Upon returning to the United States, the Howells family settled in Cambridge in a house which was designed by Elinor. Mr. Howell’s because assistant editor at The Atlantic Monthly, and made editor several years later.
8. In 1872, William Dean Howells published his first novel Their Wedding Journey, but he had to wait a full decade before literary recognition of his talent.
9. Elinor Howell died a few days after her birthday, and two weeks before their good friend Mark Twain.
10. William Dean Howells died between midnight and 1 AM, and is buried in Cambridge.

Books by William Dean Howells*

Zohar — Man of la Book
*Ama­zon links point to an affil­i­ate account, the money is usually spent on books

Sources:

William Dean Howells | Wikipedia

William Dean Howells: American author and critic | Britannica