Gertrude Hall, also known as Gertrude Hall Brownell, was an American author and translator whose literary career spanned the late nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries. Born in 1863, she established herself as a versatile writer, producing a diverse body of work that included poetry, short stories, novels, and various nonfiction pieces. Beyond her original compositions, Hall was also highly regarded for her translations, particularly her work rendering French literary texts into English.
In her personal life, Hall became the second wife of the distinguished American art and literary critic William Crary Brownell. Following his death in 1928, she took on the role of literary executor and biographer for her late husband. She compiled and anthologized his extensive critical writings, ensuring his work remained accessible, and wrote a detailed memoir reflecting on their life and partnership together. She lived a long life, passing away in 1961.
