'The Fortunes of Oliver Horn' is a coming-of-age novel written by Francis Hopkinson Smith. The story follows a Southern young man named Oliver who came from a wealthy family. He was sent to New York and is expected to give up his dream of becoming a painter and start working, but instead he befriends a group of bohemian artists called the Skylarkers' Club. They get into all sorts of mischief, like inviting a German brass band to play in their loft apartment. Oliver's mother wants him to give up on his dreams and work, but he goes to art college at night anyway. There he meets Margaret Grant, a determined New Englander. Their relationship is strained by their different cultural backgrounds and, later, by the American Civil War.

Realistic writers seek to render accurate representations of the world, and their novels contain authentic details and descriptions of their characters and settings. Like Realistic authors, Naturalistic ones similarly try to portray the world accurately, but they tend to depict the darker side of life. Realism was born in Europe in the nineteenth century and soon became popular in the United States, while Naturalism became prominent at the beginning of the twentieth century. Both traditions have continued in one form or another to the present day, and Realistic and Naturalistic novelists include some of America's most significant authors, such as Sherwood Anderson, Saul Bellow, Ambrose Bierce, Willa Cather, Theodore Dreiser, Ralph Ellison, and Jack London. This reference includes biographical and critical entries for more than 120 American Naturalistic and Realistic novelists. An introductory essay discusses the history of the Realistic and Naturalistic traditions, points to the difficulty of defining them, and surveys the many authors who have been associated with the two movements. The entries that follow are arranged alphabetically to facilitate use. Each includes basic biographical information and a narrative overview of the writer's educational background, professional career, and published works. The writer's works are briefly discussed in relation to the Realistic and Naturalistic traditions. Entries include primary and secondary bibliographies, and the volume closes with a list of works for further reading.