author
Lewis Worthington Smith
1866–1947
A longtime Drake University professor who turned the craft of writing into clear, practical books, he also published poetry and drama. His work was widely read in the early 1900s, especially by students and aspiring writers.
1 Audiobook
The Writing of the Short Story
by Lewis Worthington Smith
About the author
Born in Malta, Illinois, in 1866, Lewis Worthington Smith was an American teacher, writer, and literary guide whose career was closely tied to the study of English. He spent decades at Drake University, where he led the English department and helped shape generations of students.
Smith wrote across several forms, including poetry, plays, and handbooks on style and composition. He is especially remembered for books such as The Writing of the Short Story and The Mechanism of English Style, which aimed to make good writing practical and teachable.
That mix of classroom experience and literary ambition gives his work a distinctive appeal. He wrote for readers who loved language but also wanted useful advice, and his books remained well known enough to be reprinted and preserved in major digital libraries.