Edgar Allan Poe is unique for being at once so firmly entrenched within the American literary tradition and yet so questionable in the eyes of the very critics whose attentions strengthened his position. Harold Bloom wonders if Poe's longevity suggests that literary merit and canonical status aren't inseparable.
Though critical opinion of the literary merit of Edgar Allan Poe's writing has varied widely since his death in 1849, his tales have remained popular for their gothic sensibilities and evocative explorations of human vice and desire. Poe's influence on subsequent generations of science fiction and horror writers cannot be understated. This new collection of full-length critical essays explores the enduring works of this esteemed writer and the often-shadowy worlds he brings to life.
In June of 1842, Edgar Allan Poe took up his pen to broach a delicate subject with an old friend. “Have I offended you by any of my evil deeds?” he asked. “If so, how? Time was when you could spare a few minutes occasionally for communion with a friend.”
Added by: huelgas | Karma: 1208.98 | Fiction literature | 30 January 2009
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Edgar Allan Poe is today considered one of the greatest masters and most fascinating figures of the American literary world. However, an examination of Poe's essays and criticism throughout his prose publishing career (1831-1849) reveals that the author himself played a vital role in the creation and manipulation of his own reputation. Teachers and studentsalike will enjoy this single-volume treatment of Poe's self-promotional tales and criticism.
A Historical Guide to Edgar Allan Poe (Historical Guides to American Authors)
Added by: huelgas | Karma: 1208.98 | Fiction literature | 30 January 2009
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Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), son of itinerant actors, holds a secure place in the firmament of history as America's first master of suspense. Displaying scant interest in native scenes or materials, Edgar Allan Poe seems the most un-American of American writers during the era of literary nationalism; yet he was at the same time a pragmatic magazinist, fully engaged in popular culture and intensely concerned with the "republic of letters" in the United States. This Historical Guide contains an introduction that considers the tensions between Poe's "otherworldly" settings and his historically marked representations of violence, as well as a capsule biography situating Poe in his historical context.
