William Dean Howells (1837-1920) was an American realist author, 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 his own prolific writings, including the Christmas story "Christmas Every Day", and the novels The Rise of Silas Lapham and A Traveler from Altruria. Howells is known to be the father of American realism, and a denouncer of the sentimental novel. He was the first American author to bring a realist aesthetic to the literature of the United States. His stories of Boston upper crust life set in the 1850s are highly regarded among scholars of American fiction. After short campaign in Republican administration, Howells was appointed a consul in Venice in 1861. He remained in Italy for 4 years and during this time he wrote travel sketches and reports describing life in town and country. Later on, he came back to Europe, which resulted in few more travel books to his name. Table of Contents: - Venetian Life - Italian Journeys - Roman Holidays and Others - Suburban Sketches - Familiar Spanish Travels - A Little Swiss Sojourn - London Films - Seven English Cities