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15 Authors like Harold Frederic

Harold Frederic was an American novelist known for realistic fiction. His notable works include The Damnation of Theron Ware and The Market Place, which thoughtfully explore society and personal conflicts.

If you enjoy reading books by Harold Frederic then you might also like the following authors:

  1. William Dean Howells

    If you like Harold Frederic's realistic portrayal of characters and social situations, you'll probably enjoy William Dean Howells. Howells is known for a straightforward style and attention to everyday life, especially his keen observations of society's customs and values.

    One notable example is his novel The Rise of Silas Lapham, where a self-made businessman struggles with moral decisions amid wealth and social expectations.

  2. Henry James

    Henry James might appeal if you appreciate the complex characters and nuanced psychological insights found in Harold Frederic's novels. James wrote with precision and depth, exploring inner thoughts, social interactions, and moral dilemmas.

    A great example is his novel The Portrait of a Lady, which follows Isabel Archer, an independent-minded American woman facing difficult choices in a restrictive European society.

  3. Stephen Crane

    Fans of Harold Frederic's realistic approach, especially his willingness to highlight the harsh realities of life, will probably enjoy Stephen Crane. Crane's style is direct and vivid, often reflecting the brutal realities of existence and people's vulnerabilities.

    His novella The Red Badge of Courage powerfully explores the fear, courage, and inner turmoil of a young Civil War soldier on the battlefield.

  4. Frank Norris

    Frank Norris shares Harold Frederic's interest in how people are strongly shaped by social and economic forces beyond their control. Norris wrote with intense, naturalistic style, richly depicting environments and how they influence human behavior.

    His novel McTeague portrays a dentist whose life spirals downward due to greed and uncontrollable human instincts, exposing darker aspects of human nature.

  5. Theodore Dreiser

    If you value Harold Frederic's portrayal of realistic characters navigating complex social and economic situations, you may also appreciate Theodore Dreiser. Dreiser offers a clear, unflinching look at American society, class, and ambition.

    His novel Sister Carrie illustrates the struggles and moral challenges of a young woman seeking opportunities in the urban environments of Chicago and New York, bringing to life the pressures of modern life.

  6. Hamlin Garland

    Hamlin Garland writes honest, straightforward stories about life in rural America. He often explores the struggles and daily realities faced by ordinary people, highlighting the challenges and hardships of farming communities.

    If you enjoy Harold Frederic's insightful portrayals of society, you'd appreciate Garland's Main-Travelled Roads, a collection depicting farm life without romanticizing its hardships.

  7. Edith Wharton

    Edith Wharton is an expert observer of upper-class American society and its rigid rules. She tackles themes of wealth, social climbing, and the constraints society places on people's lives.

    If you're drawn to Frederic's critical look at social expectations, you'll find Wharton's The Age of Innocence fascinating, capturing both the elegance and the tragic limitations of New York high society.

  8. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

    Mark Twain's writing is witty, humorous, and rich in sharp observations about human nature and society. He often captures the hypocrisy, absurdities, and contradictions of people through characters and dialogue grounded in authentic-sounding American voices.

    Like Harold Frederic, Twain holds a mirror up to society's flaws. His classic novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn blends satire, humor, and social critique, giving insight into race relations, identity, and morality in America.

  9. Sinclair Lewis

    Sinclair Lewis portrays small-town American life with sharp satire and honest realism. He often criticizes societal conformity, hypocrisy, and closed-mindedness through vivid, believable characters and situations.

    Fans of Frederic's keen reflections on community life and societal norms would enjoy Lewis's Main Street, a portrayal of one woman's struggle to find meaning in provincial life.

  10. Sherwood Anderson

    Sherwood Anderson writes about ordinary people and their inner lives with honesty and sensitivity. His works often center on small-town America, exploring hidden emotions, dreams, and complexities beneath the routine surface.

    If you're interested in Frederic's nuanced character portrayals and insight into individual struggles, Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio provides beautifully crafted stories of everyday people searching for truth and fulfillment.

  11. Kate Chopin

    Kate Chopin explores the inner lives and emotional struggles of women in American society. Her writing is clear and honest, challenging the traditional roles expected of women in her time.

    In her novel The Awakening, she tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a woman seeking independence and identity in a restrictive world.

  12. E. W. Howe

    E. W. Howe writes straightforward stories about small-town life, capturing its hypocrisies and social pressures with clarity and wit. He pays close attention to the quiet dramas within ordinary lives.

    His novel The Story of a Country Town vividly portrays rural America's isolation and unfulfilled dreams.

  13. Ambrose Bierce

    Ambrose Bierce is a sharp writer known for his satirical outlook and unsettling portrayals of human nature. His works often blend dark humor and the supernatural, questioning what we truly understand about reality.

    His short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge skillfully blurs the lines between illusion and truth during a man's final moments.

  14. Upton Sinclair

    Upton Sinclair writes bold and socially minded novels that criticize inequality and corruption in American life. His style is direct and immersive, drawing attention to injustice and its victims.

    His novel The Jungle exposes harsh working conditions and exploitation in Chicago's meatpacking industry, highlighting the urgent need for reform.

  15. Booth Tarkington

    Booth Tarkington captures America's changing society by focusing on the experiences, hopes, and dreams of ordinary people. He writes in an engaging, approachable style, bringing humor and sympathy to his characters.

    In his novel The Magnificent Ambersons, Tarkington portrays a wealthy family's declining fortunes alongside a transforming American landscape.