James Lane Allen
James Lane Allen was an American author born on December 21, 1849, near Lexington, Kentucky. He was the youngest of seven children in a family with Virginia roots, raised in the refined atmosphere of the antebellum South. After graduating salutatorian from Transylvania University in 1872, he pursued a career in teaching before ultimately dedicating himself to writing. Allen's literary career began with contributions to prestigious magazines, leading to the publication of his first novel, *John Gray*, in 1893. He achieved notable success with his second novel, *A Kentucky Cardinal*, published in 1894, and his most famous work, *The Choir Invisible*, in 1897, which was translated into multiple languages.
Allen's writing often grappled with controversial themes such as sexuality, Darwinism, and racial equality, which sometimes alienated readers. Nevertheless, he experienced periods of commercial success, particularly with *The Mettle of the Pasture* in 1903. His works are characterized by a deep connection to Kentucky, both in setting and in the depiction of its dialect and societal nuances. Recognized as a significant figure in Kentucky's literary tradition, Allen has been regarded as one of the state's first important novelists, noted for his ability to portray the complexities of antebellum upper-class life. He passed away on February 18, 1925.
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James Lane Allen
Writer
- Born: December 21, 1849
- Birthplace: Near Lexington, Kentucky
- Died: February 1, 1925
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
James Lane Allen was born near Lexington, Kentucky, on December 21, 1849, and was the seventh child of Richard Allen and Helen Jane Foster Allen. He was the third of three sons born to the couple, who were descended from a class of gentleman farmers in Virginia. Allen was named after an uncle, the Reverend James Lane Allen. As the youngest and frailest of his siblings, Allen received special attention from his mother, and his early years were spent in the atmosphere of refinement and gentility associated with the antebellum South. In 1872, Allen graduated from Transylvania University as salutatorian. He went on to pursue a master of arts degree, which he received in 1877. Allen spent the next several years teaching in Missouri, West Virginia, and Kentucky. He considered returning to college to earn a doctorate and even went to Baltimore to attend John Hopkins University, but he was drawn to a writing career.
He began his career by writing both fiction and nonfiction pieces for magazines. Before long, his work was appearing in magazines such as Harpers and Atlantic Monthly. In 1891 a collection of his magazine fictions was published, and, in 1893, he moved to New York City, where he was to spend the rest of his life as a professional writer. He died on February 18, 1925.
Allen remained strongly influenced by his Kentucky upbringing, and his home state was his favorite setting for his novels. A collection of travel writings, The Blue-Grass Region of Kentucky (1892), was an early example of Allen’s attachment to Kentucky. His novels incorporated both the mindset and the dialect of his native state. Although he published his first novel, John Gray, in 1893, it was not until the publication of his second novel, A Kentucky Cardinal, in 1894 that he enjoyed both commercial and critical success. Allen’s The Choir Invisible, a historical novel published in 1897, was his most successful book and was translated into several languages. Allen, however, had a predilection for choosing controversial subjects for his novels and tended to alienate the many readers. Storylines dealing with sexuality, Darwinism, and issues of racial equality alienated many of his readers. He did, however, see two periods of commercial success. The first was with his best-selling The Mettle of the Pasture, published 1903. The second, less significant period, occurred with A Cathedral Singer, which was published in 1916. Allen was, nevertheless, a very talented writer, and his works dealt with significant themes in a pleasing style. He depicted the antebellum upper-class society with an exceptional perception, and is credited with having made significant contributions to the beginning of Kentucky’s literary tradition. He has been called the first of Kentucky’s important novelists.