James Lane Allen (December 21, 1849 – February 18, 1925) was an American

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...

and

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...

writer whose work, including the novel '' A Kentucky Cardinal'', often depicted the culture and dialects of his native

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

. His work is characteristic of the late 19th-century local color era, when writers sought to capture the vernacular in their fiction. Allen has been described as "Kentucky's first important novelist".

Early life and education

James Lane Allen was born near

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city coterminous with and the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the city's population was 322,570, making it the List of ...

, to Richard and Helen Jane (Foster) Allen on December 21, 1849. Allen, the youngest child in the family, had four sisters Lydia, May, Sally, and Annie, and two brothers, John and Henry. Allen lived at the Scarlet Gate estate in Lexington in the late 1800s until age 22 years. In 1872, Allen graduated from the

University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky (UK, UKY, or U of K) is a Public University, public Land-grant University, land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical ...

, Lexington, taught at Fort Spring, Kentucky, at Richmond and at Lexington, Missouri, and from 1877 to 1879 at the academy of the University of Kentucky, where he was principal and taught modern languages. In 1880, he was professor of Latin and English at

Bethany College (West Virginia) Bethany College is a private liberal arts college in Bethany, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1840 by minister Alexander Campbell of the Restoration Movement, who gained support by the Virginia legislature, Bethany College was the fi ...

; and then became head of a private school at Lexington, Kentucky. Allen spent his youth in Lexington during the

Antebellum era The ''Antebellum'' South era (from ) was a period in the history of the Southern United States that extended from the conclusion of the War of 1812 to the start of the American Civil War in 1861. This era was marked by the prevalent practi ...

, the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

, and the Reconstruction periods. His childhood heavily influenced his writing. He described living at Scarlet Gate in the introduction to ''A Kentucky Cardinal.''

Career in New York

In 1893, Allen moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, where he lived until his death. He was a contributor to ''

Harper's Magazine ''Harper's Magazine'' is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts. Launched in New York City in June 1850, it is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the United States. ''Harper's Magazine'' has ...

'', ''

The Atlantic Monthly ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher based in Washington, D.C. It features articles on politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 1857 ...

'', and other popular magazines of the time. His novels include '' The Choir Invisible'', which was a popular best seller in 1897.(6 October 1946)
Fifty Years of Best Sellers
compiled in ''Popular Culture''(19 February 1925)

''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

Death and legacy

Allen died "from

insomnia Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder where people have difficulty sleeping. They may have difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep for as long as desired. Insomnia is typically followed by daytime sleepiness, low ene ...

" in 1925, and is buried in

Lexington Cemetery Lexington Cemetery is a private, non-profit rural cemetery and arboretum located at 833 W. Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky. The Lexington Cemetery was established in 1848 as a place of beauty and a public cemetery, in part to deal w ...

. At the northern edge of Gratz Park in Lexington is the "Fountain of Youth", built in memory of Allen using proceeds willed to the city by him. James Lane Allen School, an elementary school off Alexandria Drive in Lexington, Kentucky is named in his honor.

Bibliography

Works published by Allen include: *
Flute and Violin
' (1891) (compilation of previously published stories) *
The Blue-Grass Region of Kentucky
' (1892) (second compilation) *
Sister Dolorosa, and Posthumous Fame
' (1892) * ''John Gray'' (1893) * '' A Kentucky Cardinal'' (1894) *
Aftermath
' (1895) (sequel to ''A Kentucky Cardinal'') * ''Summer in Arcady'' (1896) * '' The Choir Invisible'' (1897) * ''Two Gentlemen of Kentucky'' (1899) *
Out from the heart
' (1900) * ''The Increasing Purpose ''(1900) *
The Reign of Law
' (1900) *
The Mettle of the Pasture
' (1903) *
The Bride of the Mistletoe
' (1909) *
The Doctor's Christmas Eve
' (1910) * ''The Heroine in Bronze'' (1912) *
The Last Christmas Tree
' (1914) * ''The Sword of Youth'' (1915) *
A Cathedral Singer
' (1916) *
The Kentucky Warbler
' (1918) *
The Emblems of Fidelity
' (1919) * ''The Alabaster Box'' (1923) * ''The Landmark'' (1925)

Notes

External links