(1837-1920)
The eminent critic, novelist, poet, and playwright was born in Martin's Ferry, Ohio, and was contributing to Ohio newspapers by age 15. In 1871, he became editor of the Atlantic Monthly. His close friendship with Mark Twain was a source of inspiration and material for several works. He was an early proponent of realism in the arts. He wrote 35 plays, most of them charming one-act "parlor farces" like The Mousetrap (1886) and The Unexpected Guests (1893). He also wrote full-length plays, notably A Foregone Conclusion (1886) and Yorick's Love (1886).
The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater. James Fisher.