born Nov. 11, 1836, Portsmouth, N.H., U.S.
died March 19, 1907, Boston, Mass.
U.S. poet, short-story writer, and editor.
Aldrich left school at age 13 and soon began to contribute to newspapers and magazines. He was editor of The Atlantic Monthly 1881–90. He drew on his childhood for his classic children's novel The Story of a Bad Boy (1870). His use of the surprise ending influenced the development of the short story in the U.S. Aldrich's poems reflect New England culture and his experiences visiting Europe.