<p>William Dean Howells's 'Fennel and Rue' is an exploration of authorial ethics and the responsibilities of a writer towards his audience. In this text, the narrative's focus on the psychological complexity of its protagonist, Peter Verrian, showcases Howell's deft hand in blending realism with probing character study. The literary style is quintessentially Howellsian, with the detailed social observation that is the hallmark of literary realism...