Floyd Dell (June 28, 1887 – July 23, 1969) was an American novelist, playwright, literary critic, and social activist. Born into poverty in Illinois, he left school at 14 but became a journalist through self-education. A key figure in early 20th-century American modernism, he is best known for his novels 'The Moon-Calf' and 'The Briary-Bush'. Dell was a central member of the Chicago Renaissance and Greenwich Village cultural scene, advocating for free love, gender equality, and leftist politics. His works explore themes of personal freedom and social change, influencing American literature and progressive thought.
