The work examines the tendency of American authors to live abroad and draw inspiration from European cultural centers. It begins by addressing a critique claiming that the drive for material success in the United States has driven away its most distinguished literary figures. The argument is that rather than a loss, this expatriation has become an expression of the literary spirit as inherently cosmopolitan. Writers who have gained prominence in European artistic circles are not abandoning their national roots out of contempt or necessity but are participating in a larger, transnational literary tradition. The text reviews historical examples, showing that even the earlier celebrated writers spent considerable periods outside their home country. It notes how figures praised in American literary history frequently traveled and lived abroad, drawing on foreign experiences to enrich their work. Their so-called absenteeism is portrayed not as a failure of national culture but as a reflection of the universal nature of literature. This movement is likened to a broader, inevitable trend seen among European writers who also sought inspiration beyond their national boundaries. Furthermore, the work argues that the economic conditions in the United States—specifically, the pursuit of wealth that has led to a concentration of both millionaires and the impoverished—are not the fundamental cause of this pattern. Rather, the decision by many authors to reside abroad seems to stem from personal proclivities and the allure of different cultural milieus, which offer new perspectives and experiences that ultimately enhance their creative output. The author counsels that American literature, rather than being a product strictly of local folklore or confined by national borders, has always been influenced by and interwoven with international literary currents. The example is broadened by comparing American writers to notable European authors who either lived abroad or actively engaged with international communities; this serves to defuse the notion that expatriation is inherently a loss. Instead, it is presented as a variant of literary evolution that benefits from global interaction. The piece ultimately contends that literary creation transcends geographic limitations; a writer’s power lies in the ability to assimilate diverse influences and contribute to a shared cultural dialogue. In this light, the phenomenon of American authors living abroad is not a betrayal of national culture, but a natural outcome of a modern, interconnected intellectual environment. The work advocates for embracing, rather than lamenting, the international experiences that shape the literary output of American writers, suggesting that such experiences fortify rather than diminish the vitality of American literature.
By William Dean Howells · First published 1892 · Genre: Literary Criticism, Essay, Cultural Commentary