Reproduction of the original.

The White Mr. Longfellow

William Dean Howells (1837-1920) was an American realist author and literary critic. He wrote his first novel, Their Wedding Journey, in 1871, but his literary reputation really took off with the realist novel A Modern Instance, published in 1882, which describes the decay of a marriage. His 1885 novel The Rise of Silas Lapham is perhaps his best known, describing the rise and fall of an American entrepreneur in the paint business. His social views were also strongly reflected in the novels Annie Kilburn (1888) and A Hazard of New Fortunes (1890). While known primarily as a novelist, his short story "Editha" (1905) - included in the collection Between the Dark and the Daylight (1907) - appears in many anthologies of American literature. Howells also wrote plays, criticism, and essays about contemporary literary figures such as Ibsen, Zola, Verga, and, especially, Tolstoy, which helped establish their reputations in the United States. He also wrote critically in support of many American writers. It is perhaps in this role that he had his greatest influence.

The White Mr. Longfellow is the short essay by the American realist novelist, literary critic, and playwright, William Dean Howells. It is an account of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by Howells. It is more of on homage than a criticism as he speaks no harsh words towards him. It also gives an account of Howells views on the Cambridge intellectual society at the time, refereeing to it as, "almost ideal, and until we have a perfectly socialized condition of things I do not believe we shall ever have a more perfect society." Odin's Library Classics is dedicated to bringing the world the best of humankind's literature from throughout the ages. Carefully selected, each work is unabridged from classic works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama.

The White Mr. Longfellow (from Literary Friends and Acquaintance) by William Dean Howells is a rare manuscript, the original residing in some of the great libraries of the world. This book is a reproduction of that original, typed out and formatted to perfection, allowing new generations to enjoy the work. Publishers of the Valley's mission is to bring long out of print manuscripts back to life.