---
title: 'The Americanism of Poe'
type: pdf
hasMedia: true
requiresPurchase: false
authors:
- 'Charles Alphonso Smith'
date: 1909-01-01
collection: 'Archives'
subcollection: '20th century'
topics:
- 'Literature'
- 'History (General)'
scriptures:
- 'Psalms 19'
- 'Proverbs 22'
url: https://confessional.org/archives/20th-century/smith-1909-the-americanism-of-poe
---

# The Americanism of Poe

Lecture arguing Poe's 'Americanism' is rooted in his constructive, structural genius — the principle of unity/totality of effect — which shaped the modern short story and influenced world literature.

[Download](https://media.confessional.org/archives/smith-1909-the-americanism-of-poe.pdf)