Thomas A. Janvier
Thomas A. Janvier was an American author born in 1849 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The son of a poet and a children's writer, he began his literary career by contributing articles to various periodicals before transitioning to book writing. Janvier gained notable recognition for his collection of short stories titled *Color Studies*, published under the pseudonym Ivory Black, which explores the lives of artists in Greenwich Village. His narrative style is characterized by accurate dialect and detailed descriptions, reflecting the culture and social dynamics of 19th-century New York.
In addition to short stories, Janvier authored travel literature, including *The Mexican Guide*, which is based on his trips to Mexico, and *The Aztec Treasure-House*, a novel published in 1890. His works often delve into themes of independence and societal norms, as seen in stories like "Roberson's Medium," which examines the complexities of romantic entanglements among artists. Janvier’s fiction is celebrated for its regionalist qualities, adeptly capturing the essence of life in his era through vivid storytelling. He remains an important figure in American literature for his contributions to both fiction and travel writing.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Thomas A. Janvier
Writer
- Born: July 16, 1849
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Died: June 18, 1913
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
Thomas A. Janvier was the son of poet Frances de Haes and children’s writer Emma de Haes. Little is known about his early life, except that he was born in 1849 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married painter and author Catherine Ann Drinker in 1878.
He started his writing career by publishing articles in a variety of periodicals before he turned to writing books. Color Studies, a collection of short stories written under the pseudonym Ivory Black, proved to be his greatest work. The stories primarily are about the lives of Greenwich Village artists. “Roberson’s Medium,” considered to be the most interesting of the stories, is about Violet Carmine, who moves from Mexico to New York City to stay with her cousin, Mangan Brown. In her determination to be independent, Violet runs free in the face of societal conventions, meets the young artist Rowney Mauve, and sees him without an escort. He falls in love with her, as does another artist named Roberson. Rowney plans to take center stage in the young women’s affections and put his competition to an end by kissing Violet in front of Roberson. Roberson, however, does not give up easily and talks about the public kiss to anyone who will listen in hopes of destroying Violet’s reputation. Rowney elicits Violet’s father’s permission to marry her and saves her reputation.
The Mexican Guide, a travel book based on Janvier’s visits to Mexico, was published in 1886. In 1890, he published a novel, The Aztec Treasure-House: A Romance of Contemporaneous Antiquity, and the following year he published another collection of short stories, Stories of Old New Spain, which were based on his Mexican travels. The Uncle of an Angel, and Other Stories also was published in 1891. In the title story of the collection, Dorothy, the headstrong eighteen-year-old protagonist, decides to take over her uncle’s house and, far more important, his travel plans.
Janvier’s novel In the Sargasso Sea tells the story of Roger Stetworth, who after setting sail for Africa learns that the captain of his ship is really a slave trader who wants Stetworth to join in this financial enterprise. Stetworth refuses, is thrown overboard, and manages to survive, only to have the ship that rescues him destroyed in a storm.
Janvier’s fiction exemplifies the work of the nineteenth century regionalist writers. He is best remembered for his Greenwich Village regional fiction that described the lives of nineteenth century New Yorkers. He also is well regarded for his accurate use of dialect and his descriptive and detailed travel writing.