A prolific writer Howells is regarded as the father of American Realism.Although not an exciting writer he broke new grounds which led to theachievements of Mar... » 

A prolific writer Howells is regarded as the father of American Realism.Although not an exciting writer he broke new grounds which led to theachievements of Mark Twain and Henry James. In Howells view writing should besimple natural and honest and should not delve into romanticexaggeration. His famous definition of the function of a writer indicates hislimitations as a Realist writer and of Realism as he conceived of it Ournovelists therefore concern themselves with the more smiling aspects of lifewhich are the more American and seek the universal in the individual ratherthan the social interests. «