<p>In 'Confessions and Criticisms,' Julian Hawthorne offers a collection of reflective essays on both his own literary efforts and those of his contemporaries. With astute introspection and a narrative that digresses into broader cultural critique, Hawthorne's prose exemplifies the Gilded Age's intellectual ferment, marrying the ornate language of the period to a sharp, analytical mind. Contextually nestled within the rich tradition of American l...