Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Thomas Bailey Aldrich was an American author, poet, and editor born on November 11, 1836, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He was the son of a merchant and grew up in a comfortable middle-class family. Aldrich was educated at home and later attended a private school in Portsmouth. At the age of 16, Aldrich started working as a clerk in his father's business. However, he soon realized that he had a passion for writing and started contributing to various newspapers and magazines. In 1855, he published his first book of poetry, The Bells, which received critical acclaim. In 1865, Aldrich became the editor of the prestigious literary magazine, The Atlantic Monthly. He held this position for 10 years and during his tenure, he published works by some of the most prominent writers of the time, including Mark Twain, Henry James, and Emily Dickinson. Aldrich's most famous work is the novel The Story of a Bad Boy, which was published in 1869. The book is a semi-autobiographical account of his childhood in Portsmouth and i