 200px|right|thumb|another view of author william gilmore simms william gilmore simms (april 17, 1806 â june 11, 1870) was a poet, novelist and historian from the american south. his writings achieved great prominence during the 19th century, with edgar allan poe pronouncing him the best novelist america had ever produced.review by edgar allan poe in broadway journal, september 20, 1845. he is still known among literary scholars as a major force in antebellum southern literature."review of from nationalism to secessionism: the changing fiction of william gilmore simms by charles s. watson," reviewed by richard j. calhoun, south atlantic review 60.1 (1995), pp. 149-151. he is also remembered for his strong support of slavery and for his opposition to uncle tom's cabin, in response to which he wrote reviews and a pro-slavery novel."woodcraft: simms's first answer to uncle tom's cabin" by joseph v. ridgely, american literature, vol. 31, no. 4 (jan., 1960), pp. 421-433; "simms's review of uncle tom's cabin" by charles s. watson, american literature, vol. 48, no. 3 (nov., 1976), pp. 365-368 == life and work == simms was born on april 17, 1806,nelson, randy f. the almanac of american letters. los altos, california: william kaufmann, inc., 1981: 41. isbn 0-86576-008-x in charleston, south carolina,ehrlich, eugene and gorton carruth. the oxford illustrated literary guide to the united states. new york: oxford university press, 1982: 249. isbn 0-19-503186-5 of scots-irish ancestors. his mother died during his infancy, and his father failed in business and joined coffee's indian fighters; as a result, simms was brought up by his grandmother.1911 britannica. in his teen years, he worked as a clerk in a drug store but began to study law at the age of eighteen.hubbell, jay b. the south in american literature: 1607-1900. durham, north carolina: duke university press, 1954: 573. he married anna malcolm giles in 1826. the bar of charleston admitted him to practice in 1827, though he soon abandoned this profession for literature. === early writings === simms first wrote poetry at the age of eight, and in his 19th year he produced
1806_births 1870_deaths 19th-century_American_novelists 19th-century_American_poets 19th-century_American_writers American_male_novelists American_male_poets American_pro-slavery_activists Historians_of_the_American_Revolution Historians_of_the_Southern_United_States People_from_Charleston,_South_Carolina South_Carolina_lawyers Writers_from_South_Carolina