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Fitz-James O'Brien: A Literary Bohemian of the Eighteen-Fifties

Wolle, Francis. Fitz-James O'Brien: A Literary Bohemian of the Eighteen-Fifties. Boulder, Col.; University of Colorado, 1944.
Type: 
book
Genre: 
biography, history

People Mentioned in this Work

Aldrich, Thomas [pages:1,27, 28, 36, 40, 54, 64-66, 75, 99, 100, 10-130, 166-169, 177, 186, 203, 223, 232, 247-249]

He and O'Brien were among A.D. Shattuck's closest friends, and Aldrich was the best man at Shattuck's wedding. Mentioned as being a regular at Pfaff's by Howells in Literary Friends and Aquaintances, a Personal Retrospect of American Authorship. His poem, "At the Cafe," discusses Pfaff's.

Arnold, George [pages:17, 18, 27, 37, 45, 65, 118, 126, 128, 160, 168, 186, 191, 201-204]

Whitman mentions that he was a leader at Pfaff's. Also associated with The Saturday Press.

The Bees [pages:124, 131, 132]

O'Brien, Wilkins, Brougham, and Mark Smith are mentioned as members of this group.

Bellew, Frank [pages:1, 32, 37, 39, 49, 64, 67, 72-73, 113, 115, 138, 158, 177, 186, 241, 248]

An intimate friend and former roommate of O'Brien.

Booth, Edwin [pages:65, 200]

Mentioned as a friend of O'Brien.

Brougham, John [pages:32,33, 64, 86-89, 92,114, 126, 131-132, 196]

Edited The Lantern. O'Brien attended Brougham's weekly dinners at Windust's. Whitman mentions that he was a leader at Pfaff's.

Clapp, Henry [pages:1, 2, 65, 92, 124-126, 128, 129, 166, 168, 174, 181, 192, 247]

Called the "King" of the Bohemians. The history of how Pfaff's became the "favorite resort" of the Bohemians is described.

Clare, Ada [pages:65, 92, 126-130, 186, 193, 206]

Called the "Queen" of the Bohemians. Whitman was "very friendly" with her and she was described as "brillant, bright, and handsome."

Clemenceau, Georges [pages:129-130]

Wolle mentions that he was trying to make a living as a physician.

Congdon, Charles [pages:100, 101]

Wolle cites a description of his experience at Pfaff's from Reminiscences of a Journalist.

Curtis, George [pages:34, 103, 143, 184]

Wolle mentions him as a clever young man in the New York group.

Danforth, Jennie [pages:130]

Rumored to have had an affair with O'Brien. Full letter from her to O'Brien is included by Wolle. The letter (circa 1861) is now part of the Charles Roman Collection.

Emerson, Ralph [pages:98]

Wolle quotes his description of Bohemians as "persons open to the suspicion of irregular and immoral living" (98).

Hall, Abraham [pages:126]

Whitman mentions that he was a a leader at Pfaff's.

Heron, Matilda [pages:139, 140,179]

The object of O'Brien's infatuation in 1857; he also became her press agent. Heron was also praised by Wilkins in the Herald.

Howells, William [pages:99]

Wolle reprints his account of and criticism of Bohemia and the circle at Pfaff's. Howells says that F. Ludlow, Aldrich, Stedman were all present at Pfaff's. Wolle also refers to a conversation between Howells and Clapp ("their chief") about Hawthorne.

Jones, George [pages:126]

Whitman mentions that he was a visitor at Pfaff's.

Ludlow, Fitz Hugh [pages:100]

Howells mentions him as a part of the Bohemian circle at Pfaff's in Literary Friends and Aquaintances, a Personal Retrospect of American Authorship.

North, William [pages:66-70, 73, 82, 156-157, 177, 227]

Wrote a satire of O'Brien in The Slave of the Lamp which is the earliest description of O'Brien in print. This piece is unique because it was written while O'Brien was alive.

North later commited suicide.

O'Brien, Fitz-James [pages:2, 92, 130]

O'Brien is mentioned throughout the book, but the relevant Pfaff's information is on the listed pages. Called the "Prince of Bohemians." Was rumored to have had an affair with Ada Clare.

Shattuck, Aaron [pages:1, 128, 129]

Part of this book is based on an interview with Shattuck in his home in Granby, Ct.

Spent the most time at Pfaff's during the publication of The Saturday Press because he was Clapp's assistant.

Smith, Mark [pages:131, 132]

Mentioned as a member of The Bees and Theta Delta Chi.

Stanley, (Henry) [pages:126]

Whitman mentions that he was a a leader at Pfaff's.

Stedman, Edmund [pages:100]

Howells mentions him as part of the Pfaff's circle in Literary Friends and Aquaintances, a Personal Retrospect of American Authorship.

Stoddard, Elizabeth [pages:100]

Howells states in Literary Friends and Aquaintances, a Personal Retrospect of American Authorship p.87 that he liked the Stoddards because they were not part of the Bohemia and thought that it had no promise or validity.

Stoddard, Richard [pages:100]

Howells states in Ibid p.87 that he liked Stoddard and his wife because they were not part of the Bohemia and thought that it had no promise or validity.

Swinton, John [pages:126]

Whitman mentions him as a leader at Pfaff's.

Taylor, Bayard [pages:65, 70]

Taylor is mentioned as a friend of O'Brien and was incorporated into the intimate circle that included the Bohemians. In John Godfrey's Fortunes, Taylor bases the character Brandagee on O'Brien.

Theta Delta Chi [pages:132]

O'Brien, Wilkins, Brougham and Mark Smith are mentioned as members of this group. The group served as material for O'Brien's .

Thompson, Launt [pages:1,]

Launt is mentioned as having been an usher at Shattuck's wedding.

Wallack, John [pages:50]

Wallack frequented Pfaff's with O'Brien.

Ward, Artemus [pages:168]

Ward was associated with The Saturday Press . He was also known as Charles F. Browne.

Whitman, Walt [pages:1, 98, 125]

Wolle cites Thomas Donaldson's Walt Whitman the Man for a Whitman quotation about exactly how he felt about Bohemia and his time at Pfaff's. Other descriptions of Whitman's experience at Pfaff's are found throughout the book.

Wilkins, Edward (Ned) [pages:125, 168]

Whitman calls him a "bright man" in an interview for The Brooklyn Daily Eagle July 11, 1886, in which he describes his nights at Pfaffs.

Wilkins was also associated with The Saturday Press.

Winter, William [pages:65, 111, 127, 161]

Mentioned as a friend of O'Brien. There is also a quotation from Winter's Old Friends that responds to Howells' recollections of disappointment after spending time with the Bohemians, saying that they were equally disappointed with Howells. Winter also provides a good description of O'Brien on p. 161

Wood, Frank [pages:126]

Whitman mentions him as a leader at Pfaff's.