... approach to writingliterary history. The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini reinforced the value Poeattached to reminiscences. Not only was autobiography useful for understanding the lives ... hisdebt to the character-writers.At the Southern Literary Messenger, Poe also had the chance to readmany memoirs and reminiscences, and these helped shape the direction of his literary study, too. ... whole Union, and the whole to be issued in book form, simultaneously here and in England.''30 The report clearly was planted by Poe, for the emphasis on the publication in England echoes...