What is William Dean Howells known for?
William Dean Howells, (born March 1, 1837, Martins Ferry, Ohio, U.S.—died May 11, 1920, New York City), U.S. novelist and critic, the dean of late 19th-century American letters, the champion of literary realism, and the close friend and adviser of Mark Twain and Henry James.
Where did William Dean Howells grow up?
Martinsville, Ohio
William Dean Howells was born on March 1, 1837, in Martinsville, Ohio (now known as Martins Ferry, Ohio), to William Cooper Howells and Mary Dean Howells, the second of eight children. His father was a newspaper editor and printer who moved frequently around Ohio.
Was William Dean Howells a naturalist?
His writing style favored naturalism, in which he related his characters’ observations in a seemingly casual and endearing manner by embracing their imperfections. Howells inspired many writers, particularly Sherwood Anderson. Howells was well known during his time.
How is Mark Twain a realist?
Considered one of the great American Realist writers, Mark Twain is not only celebrated for the stories he tells but also the way in which he tells them, with an unmatched ear for the English language and sensitivity to the diction of the common man.
What is the quote on the literary and artistic movement known as Realism by the American novelist and critic William Dean Howells?
The true realist “finds nothing insignificant,” and “feels in every nerve the equality of things and the unity of men; his soul is exalted, not by . . . ideals, but by realities, in which alone the truth lives.” For such a person, “no living man is a type, but a character” (302–303).
Why is Huck Finn realism?
With instances like this, Twain attempts to point out that hypocrisy was rampant in his society. In all, Huck Finn can be considered an example of realism because it includes real societal issues that existed during the time in which the story is set.
