Frank Harris was born James Thomas Harris in Galway, Ireland, February 14, 1856. He first came to general notice as the editor of a series of London papers including the Evening News, the Fortnightly Review and the Saturday Review, the latter being the highpoint of his journalistic career, with H. G. Wells and George Bernard Shaw as regular contributors. His later career as a journalist included a spell editing the New York Pearson's Magazine.
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He also wrote short stories and novels, two books on Shakespeare, a series of biographical sketches in 5 volumes under the title 'Contemporary Portraits' and biographies of his friends Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. His attempts at playwriting were less successful, with only one ,'Mrs. Daventry' (1900) which was based on an idea by Oscar Wilde, ever being produced on the stage.
His best known work is his autobiography 'My Life and Loves' (1922-27), which was published in four volumes while he was alive. A dubious fifth volume supposedly taken from his notes was published in 1954, long after his death. 'My Life and Loves' is notorious for its graphic descriptions of Harris's purported sexual encounters and for its exaggeration of the scope of his adventures, his prowess and his role in history.
Select Bibliography
- The Short Stories of Frank Harris, a Selection, edited by Elmer Gertz. (1975). A representative collection of Harris's work in this genre.
- The Bomb (1908). Harris's first and best novel.
- Oscar Wilde, His Life and Confessions (1916). The best of Harris's biographical works which while not entirely accurate conveys very well its author's great regard for his friend.
- My Life and Loves, complete (1963). Harris's autobiography in its first publication as a single book, with many typographical errors corrected and copious footnotes provided by its editor, Professor John F. Gallagher.
- Frank Harris, by Philippa Pullar (1975). Of all the biographies of Harris, this is the most accurate and comprehensive by far.
External Website
http://www.oddbooks.com/harris/