Charlemont; Or, the Pride of the Village

by William Gilmore Simms

By the southern American poet, novelist and historian whose novels achieved great prominence during the 19th century, with Edgar Allan Poe pronouncing him the best novelist America had ever produced. In recent decades, though, Simms' novels have fallen out of favour. His early novels usually focused on the pre-colonial and colonial periods of southern history.

376 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1860

About the author

William Gilmore Simms (April 17, 1806 – June 11, 1870) was a poet, novelist and historian from the American South whose novels achieved great prominence during the 19th century, with Edgar Allan Poe pronouncing him the best novelist America had ever produced. In recent decades, though, Simms' novels have fallen out of favor, although he is still known among literary scholars as a major force in antebellum Southern literature. 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 novel.

Reviews

[Miles Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simms' melodramatic novelization of the real life Kentucky tragedy is excellent, if slow going. So basically like all of Simms' novels.