American novelist, born in Chicago, IL, on the 5th of March 1870. He studied art in Paris in 18871889; studied at the University of California (18901894), and at Harvard University (18941895); in 18951896 served in South Africa as war correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle; in 18961897 was associate editor of the San Francisco Wave; and in 1898 was sent to Cuba as war correspondent for McClures Magazine. He died in San Francisco on the 25th of October 1902. He wrote A Deal in Wheat, and Other Stories (1903), Responsibilities of the Novelist, and Other Literary Essays (1903), and the following novels: Moran of the Lady Letty (1898), a story of adventure off the California coast; McTeague (1899), a story of the San Francisco slums; Blix (1899), a love story; A Mans Woman (1900); The Octopus (1901) and The Pit (1903). The last two were powerful stories, which made his reputation. The Octopus deals with wheat-raising in California and with the struggle between the growers and the railroad trust; The Pit with wheat-speculation in the Chicago market. His complete works were published in seven volumes in 1903. See also From The Octopus.