Authors from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

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.

This American novelist and playwright (member of the American water polo team at the 1904 Olympics) often used his experiences in Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush as the basis for his adventure tales such as the 1906 bestseller "The Spoilers"; a household name in the early 20th century because of bestsellers such as "The Net" (1912), "Don Careless"… Read more about this item

This Italian-American writer penned novels and translated Italian classics, but is mostly remembered for romanticized biographies of 19th century literary figures such as "Poor Splendid Wings: The Rossettis and Their Circle" (1933), "Oscar Wilde and the Yellow Nineties" (1940), "George Sand and Her Times" (1947), "The Immortal Lovers: Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning" (1951) and others. TLS, 1p (lettersheet),… Read more about this item

This newspaper columnist founded an influential syndication service that handled authors (Robert Ripley, Eddie Guest and Thornton Burgess among them) and popular comic strips, and his own syndicated inspirational essays were often published in book form. PS, 4" X 5", n.p., n.y. Very good. Signature faintly smudged; two tape stains on verso. Glossy head-and-shoulders portrait of a smiling older… Read more about this item

This American novelist and playwright (member of the American water polo team at the 1904 Olympics) often used his experiences in Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush as the basis for his adventure tales such as "The Spoilers" (1906); a household name in the early 20th century because of bestsellers such as "The Net" (1912), "Don Careless" (1928), "Jungle… Read more about this item

This mainstay of the 19th century literary scene was a popular, influential liberal journalist and long-time editor of the "New York Evening Post," but is best remembered as a prolific poet whose best-known piece, "Thanatopsis," was written as a teenager. ALS, 1p, 5" X 8", New York, NY, 11 January 1865. Addressed to Richard Lathert. Very good. Lightly age… Read more about this item

This popular humanities professor is estimated to have given 13,000 lectures to eight million students during his professorships at Indiana University and Stanford University; his many and diverse books include "The Poetry and Philosophy of Browning," "The Divine Comedy of Dante," "The Story of an Itinerant Teacher," "The Philosophy of Art," "The Soul of Democracy: The Philosophy of the… Read more about this item

The uncle of famed financier Howard Hughes was a popular music writer ("American Composers," "The Music Lovers' Encyclopedia," etc.) who also authored novels, biographies, poetry and more. TLS, 1p, 7 3/4" X 9½", Los Angeles, CA, 6 May 1939. Addressed to future notable Lincoln/Civil War scholar Arnold F. Gates (1914-93). Near fine. On imprinted letterhead, Hughes thanks his correspondent… Read more about this item

"Ragtime" (1975) and "Billy Bathgate" (1989) were among this popular American novelist's many works of historical fiction. Document Signed, 1p, heavy stock 5" X 3", n.p., n.y. Near fine. Actual library catalogue card, single hole punched at bottom center, for Doctorow's 1975 bestseller "Ragtime." Doctorow signs boldly in black fineline at center, slightly smearing the last couple letters. Interesting… Read more about this item

Blueblood American intellectual writer, playwright and novelist ("Burr," "Lincoln"). Document Signed, 1p, heavy stock 5" X 3", n.p., n.y. Fine. Actual library catalogue cards, single hole punched at bottom center, for Vidal's 1977 book "Matters of Fact and of Fiction: Essays 1973-1976." Vidal boldly signs in black fineline near the center, adding below the comment "Grandson of Okla's… Read more about this item

Mailer was the controversial tough guy novelist ("The Naked and the Dead"), political activist, essayist, and "New Journalism" advocate who won the Pulitzer Prize (twice) and National Book Award; Vidal was the blueblood intellectual writer, playwright and novelist ("Burr," "Lincoln"). In 1971 these two butted heads famously on "The Dick Cavett Show" over Vidal's rough review of a Mailer… Read more about this item

Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Great River: The Rio Grande in North American History" (1954) and "Lamy of Santa Fe: His Life and Times" (1975) was equally at home with fiction and with history. ALS, 1p, 8½" X 11", Middletown, CT, 13 May 1976. Fine. Addressed to Arnold F. Gates (1914-93, noted Lincoln/Civil War scholar). Near fine. On "Wesleyan… Read more about this item

Nicknamed "Poet of the Sierras," this boisterous frontiersman, California adventurer, gold miner and one-time horse thief turned literateur, drawing attention by his Western ways and garb; his books include "Pacific Poems," "Songs of the Sierras," "Life Among the Modocs" and others. "With yours / from / Joaquin Miller" and interesting squiggle boldly penned in brown ink on a 2¼"… Read more about this item

This bureaucratese critic par excellence was actually a businessman, writer, educator, civil servant, politico and even tongue-in-cheek 1992 presidential candidate (for the APA = Apathy Party of America) who came to fame with his 1972 "When in Doubt, Mumble: A Bureaucrat's Handbook" and several similar titles (such as "Fuzzify! Borenwords and Strategies for Bureaucratic Success"). Signed Original Drawing, heavy… Read more about this item

In 1935 the American Communist Party formed this motley group of writers -- poets, playwrights, critics, novelists, etc. -- who sympathized with their ideology and supported their view, with Writer Waldo Frank their first president and a stellar "Who's Who" membership of "fellow travelers"; they issued a newsletters, published titles and were active in various causes such as the… Read more about this item

This American dramatist became one of the most popular playwrights of the late 19th century, both in the U.S. and the U.K., with such syrupy affairs as "Saratoga" (1870), "Young Mrs. Winthrop" (1882), "Shenandoah" (1998) and others. ALS, 3pp, 5" X 8" (lettersheet), London, England, 25 October 1881. Addressed to Mrs. Barrow. Near fine. Faint mounting trace along original… Read more about this item

This prolific American author of fiction and nonfiction wrote the screenplays for "The Jolson Story," "The Greatest Show on Earth" and other films. TLS, 1p, 8½" X 11", Brooklyn, NY, n.y. [postal cancellation 14 March 1940]. Addressed to Harry W. Zollars. Very good. Faint original folds. Chatty letter to an early admirer "about my novel DECADE. I am happy… Read more about this item

This wunderkind of educators had already served as dean of Yale Law School (1927-29) when named president of University of Chicago in 1929! Which post he held until 1945, then named chancellor and serving until 1951. With Mortimer J. Adler, he introduced the famed "Great Books" program, eliminated intercollegiate football and made other radical curriculum changes; he authored many… Read more about this item