Authors from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

Controversy swirled around this American author, poet and actress when her abusive ne'er-do-well husband shot and wounded her paramour (1867), then after she divorced him he shot the same man ("New York Tribune" journalist Albert D. Richardson) a second time in 1869, although she married him before he died a week later; the trial proved a media sensation, the… Read more about this item

This Irish-American journalist worked his way up at a New York financial weekly, the "Merchant's Ledger," until he bought it in 1851 -- and as publisher renamed it the "New York Ledger" and transformed it into a successful literary paper, featuring articles by well-known writers; it was for him that Charles dickens wrote "Hunted Down," the only story he… Read more about this item

This author penned a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction such as "A Handbook of German Literature" (1895), "Reminiscences of William Wetmore Story, the American Sculptor and Author" (1897), "Laureled Leaders for Little Folks" (1908), "James Fenimore Cooper" (1913), "Tommy Tregennis" (1914) and "Edgar Allan Poe" (1926). Signature on a 3½" X 2¼" slip, n.p., n.y. Near fine. An… Read more about this item

This Scottish writer's first novel ("Mr. Smith: A Part of His Life," 1874) pleased Queen Victoria so much she invited Walford to be received at court; she cranked out close to fifty similar light-hearted domestic page turners over the next four decades. AQS, 1p, 5" X 6¼" (lettersheet),n.p., 17 May 1911. Near fine. Walford writes out, large and bold,… Read more about this item

This Italian professor of philosophy and Italian language/literature visited the U.S. to research the public schools and decided to stay; he wed noted poet/writer/educator/socialite Anne Lynch and their New York brownstone became a popular salon for authors and artists. AQS, 1p, 6 3/4" X 9", Newport, RI, 31 September 1872. Addressed to "Carlo T. Brooks." Near fine. Mild age… Read more about this item

The aristocratic German-Ameican writer cranked out a string of popular biographies often on music and entertainment figures, starting with "Phantom Crown: The Story of Maximilian & Carlota of Mexico" (1934) and concluding with "Concerto: The Glowing Story of Clara Schumann" (1961). PS, 8½" X 10½", n.p., n.y. Very good. Faint original folds. Publicity leaflet for a Harding appearance before… Read more about this item

This editor of the "Saturday Evening Herald" and drama critic at the "Chicago Inter Ocean" was a versatile Chicago writer who produced a volume of poetry, a history of the piano and a few plays. ANS, 8" X 10" (lettersheet), Chicago, IL, 11 December 1891. Addressed to Harry C. Kocherperger [sic]. Very good. Lightly age toned. Kochersperger (1871-1951) was… Read more about this item

This distinguished educator and famed historian of race relations and the American South won acclaim in such influential classics as "The Strange Career of Jim Crow" (1955), the Bancroft Prize-winning "Origins of the New South" (1951) and Pulitzer Prize-winning "Mary Chesnut's Civil War" (1982), which all fueled his other activities as a noted civil rights supporter. Signed Caricature, 8½"… Read more about this item

This renowned educator served as president of Harvard University for an astonishing forty years, from 1869 to 1909; among many other scholarly achievements, he edited the highly-acclaimed multi-volume "Harvard Classics" (1910). Bold full signature on a heavy stock 5" X 3" card, below which he pens "30 March 1922." Along top, in another hand, is penned "President Emeritus, Harvard… Read more about this item

This versatile French writer and journalist was among the leading female intellectuals of her day and produced a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction, starting with her 1930 novel "Piège," which won the Prix Renaudot.; she served as secretary for Colette, who became her mentor and in 1958 she co-edited a book of Colette's writings; she lived in England… Read more about this item

Charleston, WV: Parchment Gallery Graphics, 1997. The prolific Mexican novelist and essayist was one of the leading lights of the "Latin American Boom" of the 1960s and '70s. Signed Print, 8½" X 11½", n.p., n.y. Fine. In 1954 Fuentes wrote a short story titled "Chac Mool" -- a deity in Mayan mythology who he used as a figure. This… Read more about this item

Prolific French writer, novelist, poet, essayist and literary critic, elected to the Académie Françoise in 1946; he was the son of noted French caricaturist Henri Henriot. IPS (in French), 8" X 11", n.p. [Chicago, IL], n.y. Good only. Heavy horizontal crack extends across bottom from ½" up from lower left edge to 2½" up from lower right edge, easily… Read more about this item

This renowned English historian is remembered for "The View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages" (1818), "The Constitutional History of England" (1827) and "Introduction to the Literature of Europe in the 15th, 16th and 17th Centuries" (1838-39); his son Arthur died in 1833 at age 22 and is immortalized in Tennyson's book-length 1850 poem "In Memoriam… Read more about this item

This insanely prolific English novelist, folklorist, hagiographer, antiquarian, scholar, travel writer and Anglican priest during his free time reputedly authored some 1,240 works -- but today is remembered as author of the hymn "Onward, Christian Soldiers." ANS, 1p, 4½" X 7", Lew Trenchon, near Devon, 19 May 1907. Addressed to Mr. Routhi. Very good. Lightly age toned, with faint… Read more about this item

The much-lauded American author and screenwriter whose genres include sci-fi, fantasy, horror, mystery and others penned such classics as "The Martian Chronicles" (1950), "Fahrenheit 451" (1953) and "I Sing the Body Electric" (1969). Color PS, heavy stock glossy 8" X 10", n.p., 21 November 1997. Fine. Handsome candid closeup of the silver-haired sci-fi legend with arms crossed before him… Read more about this item

Tobacco Road" and "God's Little Acre" (both 1932) are but two of this prolific Southern novelist's best-known works. TMS of Caldwell's short story "Midsummer Passion," 5pp, 8½" X 11", n.p., n.y. Near fine. Subtle mailing folds on last page only. This strange and steamy tale first appeared in Caldwell's short story collection "Jackpot" in 1940; this collection was retitled… Read more about this item

This charismatic academic taught a variety of subjects (history, political science, economics, sociology) at an array of top universities, but his passion was education for the masses; at age 28 he became president of West Virginia University, where he instituted radical and sweeping innovations which greatly enlarged that institution, and later did likewise as president of Toledo University (1909-10).… Read more about this item

This Rock Star of librarians was a librarian's librarian and named one of the 100 most influential librarians in America; he actually received no formal training, but was a polymath who pioneered library science training; his life was celebrated in Paul A. Winckler';s 1992 biography "The Greatest of Greatness: The Life and work of Charles C. Williamson." TNS, 1p,… Read more about this item

Although this American engineer designed such high-profile projects as the base for the Statue of Liberty in New York, it's as a novelist and short story writer who often illustrated his own books that he is best known. ALS (initials),1p, 8½" X 11", New York, NY, 25 May 1888. Addressed to "My dear Drake." Very good. On letterhead of… Read more about this item

This poet and editor at New Directions (1959-66) published ten volumes of critically-acclaimed verse. Bold signature in black fineline, 4¼" X 2 3/4" orange bookplate (with decorative black book border). Fine. Bookplate is visually quite pleasing and is NOT gummed, thus ideal for framing together with an image.