By William Dean Howells with illustrations by Augustus Hoppin. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, and Company, 1881. Suburban Sketches is a series of short stories focusing on the details of life in late 19th century American suburbia. Written in a witty and animated style, these sketches capture the colorful characters of varying race and rank who inhabit the town of Old Charlesbridge and the events which shaped their daily existence. William Dean Howells (1837-1920) was an American realist author and literary critic. Howells wrote novels, plays, criticism, and essays about contemporary literary figures such as Ibsen, Zola, Verga, and, especially, Tolstoy, which helped establish their reputations in the United States. He also wrote critically in support of many American writers. It is perhaps in this role that he had his greatest influence.

Good. Ex-libris stamp on title page and a catalog number sticker on the spine. Brown cloth binding with gilt titles and decorations. 1881 edition seems at least uncommon.