Roundabout to Boston (from Literary Friends and Acquaintance)

"Roundabout to Boston" by William Dean Howells is a collection of literary reflections and autobiographical anecdotes written in the late 19th century. This book encapsulates the author's experiences and connections within the literary circles of his time, particularly focusing on his life in Venice and the figures he encountered from American and European literature. It explores themes of ambition, recognition, and the struggles of a writer amid the socio-political backdrop of the Civil War. In the book, Howells shares intimate memories of prominent literary figures, including John Lothrop Motley, Henry Ward Beecher, and George William Curtis, highlighting his admiration for their work and the influence they had on his career as a writer. He recounts his journey from the defeats he experienced trying to publish his poetry to finding success in prose, particularly the letters he wrote about Venetian life. Through these personal stories and contemplations, Howells reflects on his growth as a writer, his longing for acceptance in the literary world, and the ups and downs of a writer's life, capturing both the vibrancy of 19th-century American culture and his deep-seated love for literature. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Dean Howells was an American realist novelist, literary critic, and playwright, nicknamed "The Dean of American Letters". He was particularly known for his tenure as editor of The Atlantic Monthly, as well as for the novels The Rise of Silas Lapham and A Traveler from Altruria, and the Christmas story "Christmas Every Day," which was adapted into a 1996 film of the same name.