I. INTRODUCTORY
II. THE MAN
III. THE HUMORIST
IV. WORLD-FAMED GENIUS
V. PHILOSOPHER, MORALIST, SOCIOLOGIST
“I've a theory that every author, while living, has a projection of
himself, a sort of eidolon, that goes about in near and distant
places, and makes friends and enemies for him out of folk who never
knew him in the flesh. When the author dies, this phantom fades
away, not caring to continue business at the old stand. Then the
dead writer lives only in the impression made by his literature;
this impression may grow sharper or fainter according to the
fashions and new conditions of the time.”
Letter of THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH to WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS
of date December 23, 1901.