Peace Manoeuvres (ePub)

Richard Harding Davis (1864-1916) was a significant figure in the literary world during the turn of the 20th century. An American author and journalist, he was born on April 18, 1864, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Regarded as the most handsome and dashing journalist of his time, Davis attended Lehigh University and later transferred to Johns Hopkins University. However, his passion for writing superseded academic pursuits, leading him to abandon his studies in favor of a journalistic career. His breakout success was with 'Gallegher and Other Stories' (1891), which established him as a talented writer of short stories. Later, his novel 'Soldiers of Fortune' (1897) broadened his reputation, depicting adventurous tales that captivated the American public. Davis's war correspondence during the Spanish-American War, the Second Boer War, and World War I drew widespread acclaim for his vivid and humanizing reports from the front lines. 'Peace Manoeuvres' is one of his later works, reflecting Davis's keen observational skills and the pacifist sentiments that emerged in his writing following the harsh realities of war. His reportage style influenced his fictional narratives characterized by action and a journalistic eye for detail. Despite the breadth of his work, today he is recognized not only for his contributions to literature but also for influencing the professionalization of war correspondence. Davis died on April 11, 1916, leaving a legacy that helped shape American journalism and literature at the dawn of the modern age.