BROWN, Charles Brockden, American novelist: b. Philadelphia, 17 Jan. 1771; d. 22 Feb. 1810: He descended from a family of Quakers, was remarkable in his childhood for his attachment to books, and at the age of 16, after having received a liberal education at the school of Robert Proud, an historian and noted teacher, had already formed plans of extensive literary works. The delicacy of his constitution incapacitated him for the bustle of business and all athletic amusements. During frequent visits to New York he became inti mate with a literary club, which fostered his devotion to letters, drew him away from his Quaker modes of life and thought and in creased his eagerness to be conspicuous as a writer. He kept minute journals, indited essays and dissertations and cultivated, with unremit ting assiduity, the arts of composition. He moved to New York and in 1797 published (Alcuyn: A Dialogue on the Rights of Women.) The first novel which he wrote was entitled 'Sky Walk,' subsequently incorporated in 'Edgar Huntley.' 'Wieland,' his first pub lished novel, appeared in 1798. It soon ac quired the reputation of a powerful and original romance. The next was 'Ormond, or the Secret Witness' (1799), which had neither the suc cess nor the merit of the other, but still ex hibits uncommon powers of invention and de scription. At this time Brown had begun no less than five novels, two of which— 'Arthur Mervyn) and 'Edgar Huntley,'— were com pleted and sent forth almost immediately. In the former the ravages of the yellow fever, which the author had witnessed in New York and Philadelphia, are painted with terrific real ism. All these works abound in both ex cellencies and faults and are strikingly original. In 1801 he published another novel,— 'Clara Howard,'— less open to exception, but also less deserving of praise. Its form is different from that of the others, being epistolary. The last
of his novels was 'Jane Talbot' (1804). It is deficient in interest, and indeed in all respects inferior to its predecessors. In April 1799, Brown published the first number of the Monthly Magazine and American Review. This work he continued until the end of the year 1800, writing abundantly for it. Circum stances compelled him to relinquish it; but in 180i he commenced another journal, with the 3 title of the Literary Magazine and American Register, and in this undertaking persevered for five years. In 1806 he entered upon a new work, a semi-annual American Register, five volumes of which he lived to complete and pub lish. It is now and must long be consulted as a valuable body of annals. In 1809 it was dis covered that his lungs were seriously affected, and he then consented to travel for the recovery of his health. The remedy, however, was ap plied too late. In November of that year he betook himself to his chamber, as he thought, for a few days; but his confinement lasted until February and ended only with his life. His writings are characterized by rich diction, variety of incident and vivid representation, but he deals too much in the extravagant and the horrible. He has been praised highly, but his reputation did not live long. He should be re membered as the first truly professional man of letters in America. His novels were collected in seven volumes (1827) with a (Life) by Dun lap, re-edited in Philadelphia (1857) ; and again enlarged with a critical comment by McKay. Consult Prescott, 'Biographical and Critical Miscellanies) (Philadelphia 1867) ; Wendell in 'A Literary History of America' (New York 1900) ; Marble, A. R. 'Heralds of (Chicago 1907) ; Erskine, 'Leading American Novelists' (New York 1909).