The Calling of Dan Matthews (ePub)

Harold Bell Wright (1872-1944) was a prominent American writer during the early 20th century, whose work enthralled a generation of readers with its heartfelt narratives and moral earnestness. Born in Rome, New York, Wright found his calling in literature after pursuing various professions including acting and preaching. His experiences as a pastor strongly influenced his writing, as shown in 'The Calling of Dan Matthews' (1909), a novel that explores the life of a young minister in a small town who grapples with the dissonance between his ideals and the reality of the congregation's expectations.

Wright's literary style is characterized by a didactic approach, underpinned by his deep Christian faith, which serves as a recurring theme in his oeuvre. His novels often featured elements of the American heartland, and he had an exceptional ability to capture the socio-economic challenges of the era, which allowed him to resonate deeply with his audience. With over 20 novels to his credit, Wright was one of the first American writers to sell a million copies of a novel and among the first to make a million dollars from writing fiction. Despite his popularity in the early 20th century, his work has since been largely forgotten by mainstream literary circles, but remains an interesting subject of study for those interested in the cultural and religious narratives of the period.