William Dean Howells, Indian Summer

Max Lester Loges (Lamar University)

Ed. by Stephen E. Meats, Pittsburg State University
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 3.2.2: American (US) Writing and Culture: The Nineteenth Century, 1783-1900.
Vol. editors: Emory Elliott (University of California, Riverside), Stephen E. Meats (Pittsburg State University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1886

Places

United States (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

Much of what happens in Indian Summer is reflected in the actual life of its author, William Dean Howells. Like the main character, Theodore Colville, Howells had spent several years in Italy as a young man. Again like Colville, he returned there after an absence of seventeen years. Howells’ visit was prompted from his strenuous efforts in writing A Modern Instance. Many of Howells’ literary friends also noticed that several of his personality traits were incorporated into Colville’s character. Howells’ notebook reveals that a number of his experiences in Florence were incorporated into his novel. For instance, several of Colville’s conversations with Reverend Waters were based on Howells’ own talks with Karl …

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2218 words

Citation: Loges, Max Lester. "Indian Summer". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 April 2016 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4447, accessed 21 November 2024.]

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