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Robert McClure Smith

John and Elaine Fellowes Professor in English

Meet Professor Smith

Years at Knox: 1996 to present

"I have most recently co-edited a collection of essays on the 19th-Century American Writer Elizabeth Stoddard. I am currently writing a series of non-fiction essays."

Education

Ph.D., English and American Literature, 1992, University of Massachusetts.
M.A., English and American Literature, 1989, University of Massachusetts.
B.A., English Studies, with honors, 1984, University of Strathclyde, U.K.

Teaching Interests

American literature, literary theory, the American Renaissance, film

Selected Professional Accomplishments

Honors/Grants

  • Knox Faculty Research / Creative Work Grant: Research Trip to Washington D.C. - 2016-2017.
  • Elizabeth Agee Prize, Choice Outstanding Academic Book Award, Scotsman and Orange Short Story Award.

Publications

"The Crow Whisperer," Psychopomp 4 (2017): 3.

"Chant Down Babylon," Solstice Sounds Audio Magazine, (Fall 2016). (A collaboration with Nikki Malley under the pseudonym Rikki Smalley)

American Culture, Canons and the case of Elizabeth Stoddard. Co-edited with Ellen Weinauer. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2014.

"Tea Party," Manchester Review 14 (Fall 2014).

"Night Shooting," Switchback 20 (Fall 2014).

"Steps," Dislocate 10 (Spring 2014): 16-27.

"Flight." In Somewhere, Sometime, edited by Nicholas Litchfield. Lowestoft Chronicle Press, 1014: 110-116 (anthology reprint of 2013 story).

"Ask an Apiarist," Defenestration (Spring 2014)

Libretto: "(Conc)auction," Mad Hat Review 16 (Spring 2014)

"Outsider," Conclave: A Journal of Character. (Spring 2014): 85-95.

"No Surrender," Aethlon 29.2 (2014) (anthology reprint of 2006 story): 173-85.

"A Man at Banna Strand," J Journal 7: 1 (Spring 2014): 5-20.

"Palais." In Caledonia Dreamin, edited Chris Kelso and Hal Duncan. Edinburgh: Eibonvale Press, 2013 (forthcoming).

"Pishtaco." Digital Americana (Spring 2013).

"Necropolis." Pushing Out The Boat 12 [U.K.] 28-35.

"Collision 90." Causeway 4: 1 [U.K.] (Spring 2013): 55-63.

"Recc." Oblong 2 [U.K.] (Spring 2013): 6-9.

"Big Stupid." Gutter 8 [U.K.] (Spring, 2013): 76-81.

"Flight." Lowestoft Chronicle 13 (Spring, 2013).

"Anything Small Could Be Big." Fifth Wednesday 12 (Spring, 2013): 42-54.

"Surprise Package." Bluestem 22: 2 (Spring 2013): 152-160.

"Insect Collection." The Alarmist 2 [U.K.] (Spring 2013): 80-83.

"Edenfield." Lunch Ticket (December 2012).

"Wood." McStorytellers [U.K.] (March 2012).

"The Quarry." Product Magazine [U.K.] (January 2012).

"Monk, running." Natural Bridge 27 (Spring 2012): 120-2.

"Scent." Vestal Review [NED] (November/December 2011).

"Every Pitcher Tells a Story." Litro Magazine [U.K.](July, 2011).

"Antonescu's Hat." Consequence (Spring 2011): 91-2.

"Slash." Manchester Review [U.K.] (March 2011).

"Jungle Jim and the Nozzleheads." The Quotable 1 (Spring 2011): 30-9.

"Fuchspreullen." New Ohio Review (Summer 2011): 116-9.

"Those Three Days." Bad Romance (Freaky Fountain Press, 2011).

"Paradiso." Good Ear Review (March 2011).

"Naenda Wapi." StoryQuarterly (March 2011).

Presentations

  • "'They told you, you were the original didn't they?': Orphan Black and the Simulacra," Film and History Conference, Madison,WI, October 30, 2014.
  • "Asperger's Style?: Tao Lin, Alt-Lit and Millennial Subjectivity," American Literature Association Conference. Washington D.C., May 23, 2014.

What Students Say

  • Rob Smith is an insightful and challenging professor who succeeds in making every class interesting through his fantastic sense of humor, creativity, and ability to make challenging theoretical concepts accessible to his students. He is certainly someone who can help you grow as a thinker and writer through his direct, astute and honest feedback.

    Elizabeth Barrios

    English Literature & Spanish Major