Can anyone tell me whether Howells had any connection with Theodor Fontane, the German realist? I am looking at similarities or comparisons in the way Fontane and Howells treated Engagements, Marriage and Divorce but I have been unable to find out whether either knew of, or had dealings with the other. Fontane died in 1898.

Richard Ellington, richardellington@yahoo.co.uk 3/27/05

Narrative "I" in The Rise of Silas Lapham

QUESTION: Reading The Rise of Silas Lapham, I was struck by, toward the very end of the book, Howells identifies the narrator with an "I" after keeping the narrator unknown up until then. I believe he does this twice, but not until the last part of the story. It was a little distracting to me. Is there anything written about that shift that could shed light on it? I'm not a scholar--just a reader who really liked the book, and I wasn't sure where else to ask such a question.Jeff Hagan jeffhagan@case.edu 3/22/05