Henry Cuyler Bunner

Henry Cuyler Bunner (1855–1896) was an American author known for his novel *Tower of Babel*. Born in Oswego, New York, to Rudolph Bunner Jr. and Ruth Keating Tuckerman, he had notable ancestors, including John Barker Church and Angelica Schuyler. He transitioned from a clerk position into journalism, contributing to the Arcadian before becoming assistant editor of *Puck* in 1877. Under his leadership, *Puck* evolved into a significant platform for social and political commentary.

Bunner authored several novels and short story collections, including *The Midge* (1886), *Short Sixes* (1891), and *Zenobia's Infidelity*, which was adapted into the 1939 film *Zenobia*. His poetic works, such as *Airs from Arcady and Elsewhere* (1884), were praised for their technical skill. He also wrote plays, verse, and parodies.

Bunner married Alice Learned in 1879; they had five children, including Ruth Tuckerman Bunner, who married Harold Dimock, brother of artist Edith Dimock. Henry Cuyler Bunner died on May 11, 1896, in Nutley, New Jersey. His works were celebrated for their technical dexterity and imaginative playfulness, with *Puck* becoming a notable publication under his editorship.