"Little Pilgrimages Among the Men Who Have Written Famous Books" by E. F. Harkins is a collection of literary sketches written in the early 20th century. The work provides insight into the lives and personalities of renowned American authors, focusing on both their professional achievements and their personal stories. This collection features notable figures such as William Dean Howells, Bret Harte, and Mark Twain, among others, capturing their contributions to American literature. The opening of the book sets the stage for a series of engaging biographies, starting with a preface that outlines Harkins' approach to chronicling the lives of these influential writers. He aims to differentiate between genuine anecdotes and apocryphal tales, presenting a nuanced perspective that emphasizes the social and personal dimensions of the authors' lives. The sketches are arranged chronologically based on the authors' first publications, allowing readers to appreciate their literary journeys and the context in which they created their most famous works. (This is an automatically generated summary.)