A Likely Story. Farce

There is no doubt about Howells immense influence on American literary culture. His thirty novels, four volumes of poetry, eight volumes of criticism, and thirty years of work at Harpers contributed to his acclaim as one of the greatest American novelists. A true champion of American realism, he earned as much praise as criticism. The most notable criticism came from Sinclair Lewis who severely dismissed his Nobel Prize address. Howells, as editor, would eventually consider favorably and support the work of his dear friends, Henry James and Mark Twain.