William Nathaniel Harben

Will Nathaniel Harben (born William Nathaniel Harben, 1858–1919) was an American writer, born in Dalton, Georgia, and died in New York. A former businessman, he turned to writing full time around the age of thirty and became one of the more popular American novelists of the early twentieth century. His works are mostly set in the daily life of the people of the north Georgia mountains, and his scenes and characters carry a distinct local color, in a plain and realistic style. His representative works include The Desired Woman and Dixie Hart, along with White Marie and North Georgia Sketches. Two of his works are included in this collection, commonly classified under inspirational growth. Public material on his life and writing is limited, and this introduction is based mainly on the basic information above and the outline of his works.