Gerould, Katharine Fullerton (1879-1944) by Black, Richard

Katharine Fullerton Gerould was a prolific essayist, short story writer and novelist whose works were avidly sought by editors in the early twentieth century. Born in Brockton, Massachusetts, she was adopted at an early age by her uncle, Reverend and his wife, Julia. Katharine attended boarding school at Miss Folsom’s School (itself a regular advertiser in the school section) before earning an A. B. and A. M. from Radcliffe College, completing her education in 1901. Katharine Fullerton Gerould Bradford Morton Fullerton Scribner’s Magazine Although her work is fairly obscure today, she published widely in preeminent American magazines like , , , and the . , the editor of the popular series, included her work in the 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1925 volumes of the and ranked her as In March 1911, published perhaps her best-known story, which was also the title story in her first collection of stories published by Charles Scribner’s Sons in 1914. The story concerns the kidnapping of by natives of an African village where she assists her missionary father. In 1930, called the story Her other noteworthy publications in include tales with exotic settings like (1914) and (1913), gothic tales such as (1913), and stories revolving around marital relationships like (1911), (1913) and (1915). Century Scribner’s Magazine Harper’s Monthly Atlantic Monthly Edward J. O’Brien Best Short Stories Yearbook of the American Short Story one of the three most distinguished contemporary writers of the American short story. Scribner’s Magazine Vain Oblations, Mary Bradford Fred Lewis Pattee a sinister tale that placed her at a bound near the head of the new school of short-story writers. Scribner’s Magazine The Tortoise The Case of Paramore, On the Staircase The Wine of Violence The Bird in the Bush Leda and the Swan In addition to short fiction, Gerould also published travel essays on Hawaii and the American West in . These two series were collected and published by Charles Scribner’s Sons as (1916) and (1925). In his entry for Gerould, cites who several of whom also enjoyed literary relationships with and the House of Scribner. Scribner’s Magazine Hawaii: Scenes and Impressions The Aristocratic West Dictionary of Literary Biography Kenneth A. Robb Austin Wright calls her one of the writers who flourished before and into the 1920s, contrasting them to the of , , , , and , old tradition new tradition Sherwood Anderson F. Scott Fitzgerald Ernest Hemingway William Faulkner Katherine Anne Porter Scribner’s Magazine Gerould’s style recalls the work of and , and the latter used her influence with to help publish Gerould’s work. However, the relationship between and Gerould was not merely professional; between 1907 and 1910 the two writers became embroiled in a romantic triangle involving Gerould’s cousin, , whom she had always believed was her biological older brother. The couple became engaged in 1907; however, William soon began an affair with Wharton in Paris. Katharine followed them to Paris in an attempt to solidify their engagement but was eventually rebuked by William upon her return to America. In 1910 the engagement was officially ended and in the same year Katharine married the Princeton scholar and contributor . The couple had two children, Christopher and Sylvia, and resided in Princeton where Katharine died at in 1944. Henry James Edith Wharton Scribner’s Wharton William Morton Fullerton Scribner’s Gordon Hall Gerould —Richard Black Selected Works by Katharine Fullerton Gerould 59.6 (June 1916): 717-35. By Ways in Hawaii. Scribner’s Magazine 57.6 (June 1915): 681-91. Martin’s Hollow. Scribner’s Magazine 58.1 (July 1915): 60-81. Miss Marriott and the Faun. Scribner’s Magazine 55.1 (January 1914): 46-59. The Tortoise. Scribner’s Magazine . New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1914. Vain Oblations Further Reading 78. Detroit: Gale Research Group, 1978. 195-198. Robb, Kenneth A. Katharine Fullerton Gerould. Dictionary of Literary Biography

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