A dictionary of American authors

"A Dictionary of American Authors" by Oscar Fay Adams is a detailed reference book from the late 1800s that brings together the lives and works of more than 6,000 American writers. The book gives short biographies and details about the authors' writings. The author openly admits that putting together such a complete collection is not easy, and achieving perfect accuracy is difficult. At the start, the preface tells about the author's goals and the problems the collection could have. Adams shares that the dictionary improves upon a past version, fixes mistakes, and includes many new entries. He's aware that some authors might be missing, and some information might not be confirmed, but he stresses the hard work that went into gathering reliable information through research and talking with others. The dictionary promises to be a key tool for anyone interested in American authors and their impact on literature.