Essays on Modern Novelists

"Essays on Modern Novelists" by William Lyon Phelps is a set of literary analyses from the early 1900s that explores the world of Modernist writers and their impact on how stories are told. Phelps takes a close took at writers like Thomas Hardy, Mark Twain, and William Dean Howells, showing how their books mirrored the ideas and feelings of their time. The collection begins with William De Morgan, highlighting how he found literary fame later in life, examining discussions between De Morgan's characters and his own views on life and writing and how real-life experiences influences his tales. Phelps highlights how De Morgan's novels stand out through their interesting stories and well-developed characters, while also comparing his work to other famous authors, setting the stage for a deeper look at how these novelists all contributed to shaping modern literature.