Established in 1834 as a monthly magazine devoted to literature, science, and the arts, The Southern Literary Messenger quickly became a leading voice of the American South, publishing works by such authors as Edgar Allan Poe, John Pendleton Kennedy, and William Gilmore Simms. With its insightful essays, reviews, and literary selections, the magazine provided a forum for Southern writers and helped shape the cultural identity of the region. This edition collects some of the most memorable contributions to the magazine, offering a fascinating glimpse into the minds and sensibilities of antebellum America.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations.