There is no question that Poe is one of the most influential writers in American history. It's an impossible question to answer, and the fun of these discussion

There is no question that Poe is one of the most influential writers in American history. It's an impossible question to answer, and the fun of these discussions is in establishing the criteria for the comparison. This article doesn't do that. It's just a list of Poe's impressive accomplishments. However, if we want to talk about the most influential, we should also talk about the breath of their impact. I would give the nod to Twain but maybe Steinbeck or Thoreau would be in the running. Thoughts? Criteria?