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The Man Who Was Poe
The Old City Lay Dark And Cold...It is night. And Edmund is alone. His mother is gone. His aunt, who went in search of her, is dead. His sister has disappeared. Edmund has no one. Except for a stranger of the night.A dark, mysterious stranger who flees from demons of his own...who follows Edmund with grim determination through the cold and shadow city, promising to help, but often hindering. A stranger who needs Edmund for purpose of his own!
208 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1989
76 people are currently reading
938 people want to read
About the author
Avi
346 books1,716 followersAvi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle,
Nothing but the Truth,
and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
March 22, 2024
I have just “discovered” the author, Avi. Meaning, of course, that one of “my” students brought him to my attention. I had asked the students to fill in a wish-list of books to be added to their classroom library and someone requested a book by Avi. The name stuck with me, and wouldn’t you know, after digging through my stacks o’ books, I actually had something from this very author!
Not just any book, either. This casts Edgar Allan Poe as a supporting character. Famous in his own rights, Mr. Poe is almost legendary here in Richmond, VA, where he occupies a predominant place in history. Clearly, I had to read The Man Who Was Poe right then. Fortunately, this Juvenile Historical Fiction was a fast read.
There’s something completely quirky about enjoying the interactions between two totally different types of people, neither of which I would expect to covet as a companion in real-life. In Avi’s world, however, it is the perfect plot presentation. This mystery moves quickly, even with the hair-pin twists and turns. I wanted to sympathize with young Edmund, or at least his pathetic predicament; but, he’s simply too tenacious and tough to pity. After all, this kid continues to go toe-to-toe with Edgar Allan Poe.
This mini-review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
Not just any book, either. This casts Edgar Allan Poe as a supporting character. Famous in his own rights, Mr. Poe is almost legendary here in Richmond, VA, where he occupies a predominant place in history. Clearly, I had to read The Man Who Was Poe right then. Fortunately, this Juvenile Historical Fiction was a fast read.
There’s something completely quirky about enjoying the interactions between two totally different types of people, neither of which I would expect to covet as a companion in real-life. In Avi’s world, however, it is the perfect plot presentation. This mystery moves quickly, even with the hair-pin twists and turns. I wanted to sympathize with young Edmund, or at least his pathetic predicament; but, he’s simply too tenacious and tough to pity. After all, this kid continues to go toe-to-toe with Edgar Allan Poe.
This mini-review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
June 25, 2019
Another childhood favorite that didn't live up to my self-imposed hype. This 200-page book felt much longer, with the mystery being drawn out just to end in two big info-dumps. I do admit that the Poe/Dupin storyline is quite interesting and tragically sad. I think more of a historical knowledge is needed to truly appreciate this novel.
August 25, 2013
After being left alone for three days, twins Edmund and Sis have run out of what little food they have. Although they were under strict orders from their aunt to stay indoors, Edmund makes the decision to head out in search of food. Unfortunately, when he returns, he discovers his sister is nowhere to be found. With his mother, aunt, and sister missing, Edmund is on his own with only a strange man to help him. Who is this man, where are his family members, and just what is the man writing?
I went into this thinking I'd have a great time. I know Avi is beloved by school kids the world over, but I honestly can't recall ever reading any of his works. With the reissue of The Man Who Was Poe, plus the fact that, hello, it's POE, I figured this would be the perfect place to start.
Boy was I wrong.
I'm all for artistic license and taking liberties when it comes to historical figures, but come on. Avi made Poe seem like a complete lunatic. He was borderline at best, jumping from mood to mood - and even identity! He insisted Edmund address him as Auguste Dupin, one of Poe's characters. He completely lost it whenever Edmund slipped and called him Poe. He also came across as, well, kind of an ass. One of my most treasured books I own is The Poe Log (a bit hard to find these days & the ones available are a tad bit pricey, sadly). It's a painstakingly detailed account of every single day of Poe's life and then some. Letters, articles, conversations are all compiled into one volume and it's a wealth of information for any fan of Poe's. On occasion I'll flip through it (& it was my best resource for some term papers in college!) and any account I've read from Poe's friends and family make mentioned of how soft-spoken and polite he was. He definitely had a drinking problem, but the novel turned him into a Jekyll/Hyde character anytime alcohol was involved.
Initially Poe - or Dupin - is willing to help Edmund find his sister, but the Crazy Train pulled up. I still don't know what happened with this one.PoeDupin is writing a story about Edmund's life and insists it can only end in death, so he decides the sister is dead and gives up his search. Naturally Edmund is distraught and bewildered and I was confused right along with him. Throw in some maybe-maybe-not ghosts, a surprise!stepfather, and a couple of bad guys for good measure and you'll get The Man Who Was Poe.
Although this was such a short book it was NOT the fun, quick read I was hoping for. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more when I was 8, but to read it as an adult made my head hurt and brought for the rage. The pace was so quick I was overwhelmed and found myself struggling to keep up at times. After a very graphic chapter early on in the book (Edmund has to identify a body found in the river), The Man Who Was Poe shifted gears and was a complete disappointment. I really wanted to enjoy this one.
I went into this thinking I'd have a great time. I know Avi is beloved by school kids the world over, but I honestly can't recall ever reading any of his works. With the reissue of The Man Who Was Poe, plus the fact that, hello, it's POE, I figured this would be the perfect place to start.
Boy was I wrong.
I'm all for artistic license and taking liberties when it comes to historical figures, but come on. Avi made Poe seem like a complete lunatic. He was borderline at best, jumping from mood to mood - and even identity! He insisted Edmund address him as Auguste Dupin, one of Poe's characters. He completely lost it whenever Edmund slipped and called him Poe. He also came across as, well, kind of an ass. One of my most treasured books I own is The Poe Log (a bit hard to find these days & the ones available are a tad bit pricey, sadly). It's a painstakingly detailed account of every single day of Poe's life and then some. Letters, articles, conversations are all compiled into one volume and it's a wealth of information for any fan of Poe's. On occasion I'll flip through it (& it was my best resource for some term papers in college!) and any account I've read from Poe's friends and family make mentioned of how soft-spoken and polite he was. He definitely had a drinking problem, but the novel turned him into a Jekyll/Hyde character anytime alcohol was involved.
Initially Poe - or Dupin - is willing to help Edmund find his sister, but the Crazy Train pulled up. I still don't know what happened with this one.
Although this was such a short book it was NOT the fun, quick read I was hoping for. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more when I was 8, but to read it as an adult made my head hurt and brought for the rage. The pace was so quick I was overwhelmed and found myself struggling to keep up at times. After a very graphic chapter early on in the book (Edmund has to identify a body found in the river), The Man Who Was Poe shifted gears and was a complete disappointment. I really wanted to enjoy this one.
October 10, 2016
I didn't really enjoy this one.
January 13, 2019
This book is pretty . . . dark . . . for a middle grade book. I mean, it may not be middle grade, but the style seemed very middle grade to me.
I bet it's hard to write a book about Edgar Allan Poe without it being dark and stabby. Ya know, cause he's Edgar Allan Poe. It had ghosts (which were basically Mr. Poe's drunken mind playing tricks on him), murder, and a mildly disturbing description of a dead woman. Hurray.
This book was interesting but low key weird. Mr. Poe had this obsession with death so it was brought up all the time so that was fun. And sometimes I couldn't tell what was actually happening and what Poe was imagining. And there was A LOT of head hopping. Like sometimes mid-scene so that was a bit trippy.
The writing style was gorgeous, even though the head hopping was a bit confusing. The descriptions sucked me in and I couldn't put it down.
The mystery was a bit predictable (I'm pretty sure something like that has been done before in like Idk Oliver Twist) and the last few chapters were a bit confusing and really fast. Like, I'm not entirely sure what happened but whatever.
So if you enjoy dark middle grade-esque fiction then this is the book for you. I probably wouldn't read it again.
I bet it's hard to write a book about Edgar Allan Poe without it being dark and stabby. Ya know, cause he's Edgar Allan Poe. It had ghosts (which were basically Mr. Poe's drunken mind playing tricks on him), murder, and a mildly disturbing description of a dead woman. Hurray.
This book was interesting but low key weird. Mr. Poe had this obsession with death so it was brought up all the time so that was fun. And sometimes I couldn't tell what was actually happening and what Poe was imagining. And there was A LOT of head hopping. Like sometimes mid-scene so that was a bit trippy.
The writing style was gorgeous, even though the head hopping was a bit confusing. The descriptions sucked me in and I couldn't put it down.
The mystery was a bit predictable (I'm pretty sure something like that has been done before in like Idk Oliver Twist) and the last few chapters were a bit confusing and really fast. Like, I'm not entirely sure what happened but whatever.
So if you enjoy dark middle grade-esque fiction then this is the book for you. I probably wouldn't read it again.
June 12, 2013
As a young reader, I read and thoroughly enjoyed some of Avi's novels. I fully expected to love this one.
There's a lot to recommend it: a genuinely baffling mystery with the fate of a young boy and his sister hanging in the balance, plenty of atmospheric settings in one of my very favorite cities (Providence), and a clever tribute to Edgar Allan Poe's C. Auguste Dupin, the first great literary detective.
There's even an extended sequence that takes place in St. John's Churchyard and the home of Sarah Helen Whitman, both visible in my photo below. (I do love this place!) A terrific use of real locations!
What I found disturbing was Avi's portrayal of Poe. I realize Poe was a troubled man - and an opinionated one who was unsparing of others' feelings when, for example, wearing his critic's hat, and at times a petty one, too - but this hopelessly drunken and self-obsessed Poe lacks any trace of the deep well of humanity evident in his fiction. He is thoroughly unlikeable and at times genuinely cruel to the young protagonist Edmund, with whose destitute and lonely plight Poe should have identified and sympathized. He is brilliant when behaving as Dupin, but he lacks even the intellectual engagement to take some delight in his remarkable acts of ratiocination.
In short, if this had been my first introduction to Poe as a young reader, I might have avoided his fiction simply due to his unrelentingly unpleasant portrayal here. Every time the author set up a moment of genuine pathos regarding Poe - which should have been easy, given that Poe appears to be half-mad - he pulled back. This Poe isn't pitiable or wrecked: he's a despicable waste and quite nearly a villain.
Woe!
There's a lot to recommend it: a genuinely baffling mystery with the fate of a young boy and his sister hanging in the balance, plenty of atmospheric settings in one of my very favorite cities (Providence), and a clever tribute to Edgar Allan Poe's C. Auguste Dupin, the first great literary detective.
There's even an extended sequence that takes place in St. John's Churchyard and the home of Sarah Helen Whitman, both visible in my photo below. (I do love this place!) A terrific use of real locations!
What I found disturbing was Avi's portrayal of Poe. I realize Poe was a troubled man - and an opinionated one who was unsparing of others' feelings when, for example, wearing his critic's hat, and at times a petty one, too - but this hopelessly drunken and self-obsessed Poe lacks any trace of the deep well of humanity evident in his fiction. He is thoroughly unlikeable and at times genuinely cruel to the young protagonist Edmund, with whose destitute and lonely plight Poe should have identified and sympathized. He is brilliant when behaving as Dupin, but he lacks even the intellectual engagement to take some delight in his remarkable acts of ratiocination.
In short, if this had been my first introduction to Poe as a young reader, I might have avoided his fiction simply due to his unrelentingly unpleasant portrayal here. Every time the author set up a moment of genuine pathos regarding Poe - which should have been easy, given that Poe appears to be half-mad - he pulled back. This Poe isn't pitiable or wrecked: he's a despicable waste and quite nearly a villain.
Woe!
September 23, 2015
Edmund and his sister are desperate it has been 3 days and Auntie is still not home. Edmond ventures out for food and when he returns, Sis is gone! Edmund meets Auguste Dupin aka Edgar Allan Poe and Poe unwillingly stumbles upon clues and helps Edmund solve the mystery. Edmund's life parallels Edgar's, and Poe is able to create a story from the circumstances he is experiencing. Clever and fun and informative!
November 18, 2024
Now I want to rewatch The Pale Blue Eye.
June 9, 2021
I liked this book a lot. It was very exciting, and the way the author set the scenes made it feel like you were watching a movie. It was very thrilling and I couldn't put it down!
December 12, 2022
I have been in a terrible reading slump, so the fact that I actually finished this says a lot. A student put it on my radar. Another student seconded the recommendation, and I’m not sad I read it. It wasn’t a literary masterpiece, but it was interesting and engaging story, so I’d call it a win. Not sure if I’ll recommend it, though.
March 9, 2019
The Man Who Was Poe is a largely disappointing work of fiction, a story which takes one leap too many in the making sense department. Author Avi comes close to insulting the intelligence of his readers in the name of plot twists and being illogical for illogic's sake.
The novel is set in 1840s Providence, Rhode Island. Edmund, the main character and a boy in his early teens, is thrust into the role of sleuth when his aunt and sister vanish. He comes into contact with a recent arrival in the town, a man who goes by the name of Auguste Dupin (hence a major downside of the book: readers will be lost if they are unaware of even the most rudimentary aspects of Edgar Allan Poe's life and career).
Dupin promises to help him find his family members, but during the search across Providence readers become increasingly unsure if he is the man he claims to be. Referred to as "Poe" by third party characters, the odds that he is lying about his identity grow with the turn of each page. Eventually it seems as if the entire story might be nothing more than a novel being written by Edgar Allan Poe himself, a fact seemingly made more likely by the almost omnipotent manner in which "Dupin" attempts to solve the story's underlying mystery.
The unconvincing introduction of these Poe fantasy aspects, as well as cardboard characters like Ms. Whitman, Mr. Throck, and Mr. Peterson, make too many stretches of the novel nothing more than a stretch. Yes, these tricks are intended to keep readers' minds guessing; but they seem to be done with little thinking beyond that put into their usage. The explanatory portions of the book, where detective work which is immaculate beyond belief is done, only add to the Man Who Was Poe's lack of believability.
Avi penned a so-so novel, one which perhaps qualifies as a microstep below average. A tad more thought but into the story's construction would have edged it right up to, or just beyond, achieving literary par.
-Andrew Canfield Denver, Colorado
The novel is set in 1840s Providence, Rhode Island. Edmund, the main character and a boy in his early teens, is thrust into the role of sleuth when his aunt and sister vanish. He comes into contact with a recent arrival in the town, a man who goes by the name of Auguste Dupin (hence a major downside of the book: readers will be lost if they are unaware of even the most rudimentary aspects of Edgar Allan Poe's life and career).
Dupin promises to help him find his family members, but during the search across Providence readers become increasingly unsure if he is the man he claims to be. Referred to as "Poe" by third party characters, the odds that he is lying about his identity grow with the turn of each page. Eventually it seems as if the entire story might be nothing more than a novel being written by Edgar Allan Poe himself, a fact seemingly made more likely by the almost omnipotent manner in which "Dupin" attempts to solve the story's underlying mystery.
The unconvincing introduction of these Poe fantasy aspects, as well as cardboard characters like Ms. Whitman, Mr. Throck, and Mr. Peterson, make too many stretches of the novel nothing more than a stretch. Yes, these tricks are intended to keep readers' minds guessing; but they seem to be done with little thinking beyond that put into their usage. The explanatory portions of the book, where detective work which is immaculate beyond belief is done, only add to the Man Who Was Poe's lack of believability.
Avi penned a so-so novel, one which perhaps qualifies as a microstep below average. A tad more thought but into the story's construction would have edged it right up to, or just beyond, achieving literary par.
-Andrew Canfield Denver, Colorado
April 12, 2013
This middle-reader is the second book that I have read by Avi, the first being The Seer of Shadows, which I enjoyed immensely. Avi tackles some pretty dark topics.
In this book, we find Edgar Allan Poe acting as Detective Dupin to help a young boy find his missing mother, sister and aunt. In the process, he finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery and investigating a bank heist.
This book had all the ingredients: Poe, murder, kidnapping, robbery. But, I found this book overly confusing.
Avi doesn't write Disney characters. He writes Poe as a alcohol-addled drunkard, more interested in his art than in actually solving the crimes he is investigating. Poe moves in and out of lucidity often confusing reality for the story he is writing. It almost seemed Johnny Depp-ian at times...and that didn't help resolve some of the complexity of the story.
I didn't NOT like this book. I just found it a little too confusing and would think the the targeted middle-readers would be completely lost.
3 STARS
In this book, we find Edgar Allan Poe acting as Detective Dupin to help a young boy find his missing mother, sister and aunt. In the process, he finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery and investigating a bank heist.
This book had all the ingredients: Poe, murder, kidnapping, robbery. But, I found this book overly confusing.
Avi doesn't write Disney characters. He writes Poe as a alcohol-addled drunkard, more interested in his art than in actually solving the crimes he is investigating. Poe moves in and out of lucidity often confusing reality for the story he is writing. It almost seemed Johnny Depp-ian at times...and that didn't help resolve some of the complexity of the story.
I didn't NOT like this book. I just found it a little too confusing and would think the the targeted middle-readers would be completely lost.
3 STARS
January 23, 2021
This one was interesting. I think I had picked it up at a book sale a while ago, because I'm a sucker for all things Poe. While I enjoyed the mystery and the storytelling, I was not a fan of how poor Edmund is emotionally abused the entire book by Poe. As an adult, I'm well aware that EAP was often an unruly drunkard in his later life, swinging back and forth between good faith and fits of writerly madness. But the hyperbole of this "tortured artist" vibe Avi wrote in this book seems a rather dark take on him for what is supposed to be a children's book, especially when the target for the abuse is the 11-year-old main character who just wants to know what's going on.
That said, I appreciate how Avi took elements of the people in EAP's real life and wove them into the story, in such a way that each one was an important piece to the overall mystery. I vaguely remember reading one or two of Avi's past books in high school, and I've always been a fan of his unconventional writing style.
That said, I appreciate how Avi took elements of the people in EAP's real life and wove them into the story, in such a way that each one was an important piece to the overall mystery. I vaguely remember reading one or two of Avi's past books in high school, and I've always been a fan of his unconventional writing style.
January 2, 2022
When it comes to middle grade mystery novels, I don’t know that I’ve ever read one quite as breathtakingly gripping as The Man Who Was Poe. It is a tale of murder, deceit, and madness.
The fictionalized Poe is a sour, selfish man that cares only for material to create a story. Edmund is a sweet, naive little boy with no one else to turn to. Together they unravel the mystery of where Edmund’s mother and sister have disappeared to.
The plot is full of suspense and kept me guessing until the very end. Everything in this book moves the story forward and is relevant in some way. While I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, they felt authentic and real, as if they could step out of the page and into real life.
I’ve heard of some of Avi’s other books, and you can bet your booties that I’ll be reading them soon!
The fictionalized Poe is a sour, selfish man that cares only for material to create a story. Edmund is a sweet, naive little boy with no one else to turn to. Together they unravel the mystery of where Edmund’s mother and sister have disappeared to.
The plot is full of suspense and kept me guessing until the very end. Everything in this book moves the story forward and is relevant in some way. While I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, they felt authentic and real, as if they could step out of the page and into real life.
I’ve heard of some of Avi’s other books, and you can bet your booties that I’ll be reading them soon!
August 30, 2023
Pretty good story! The pacing is nice and keeps you reading and interested. My only complaint is Poe really seems like a dick most of the time. It seems like a kinda Mr. Bobinski situation like from Coraline for me, where he could've been this cool mysterious insightful character but instead we just made him crazy. I don't know what Poe was like irl but I like to imagine he would've been atleast a bit kinder than he is portrayed in this book at points, drinking be darned. But again the mystery was pretty good and the ending wasn't the worst I've read either.
June 4, 2014
It was very boring and the plot was not exciting. The ending was very predictable. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU WANT TO READ SOMETHING EXCITING! Avi totally went into and supported the slander associated with Poe. The information about Poe are just stereotypes and slander. He was not proven to be like that. Very disappointing.
January 5, 2009
I enjoyed this book. It was something different. I thought it was a young adult book because I have read other Avi books and they a usually for children or young adults. I think that it was an adult book though. It was interesting and a fast read.
May 7, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I liked how unexpected things happened in the story and also how the author used descriptions to describe scenes and character. One thing I didn't like about this book was how some parts were confusing. However, I really enjoyed this book.
May 7, 2015
This mysterious/confusing book is OSM this book takes some examples that happened to Poe in real life. The story was kind of flying place to place but it was one of the best books ive ever read. People that like realistic Fiction WILL LUV THIS BOOK
May 7, 2015
I gave this book a five star rating because this book is full of suspense, and I was really sad when the book ended. I wanted to continue reading the story, and of there was a sequel, I would read that too.
August 11, 2010
The Man Who Was Poe...was a real dickhead, according to Avi.
May 7, 2015
Lots of suspense, Poe seemed to annoy me a lot because when I thought he would help he never did. The author did good using lots of clues, at times it seemed repetitive.
August 2, 2020
In this YA story, Poe, assuming the pseudo of one of his characters, attempts to help an 11-year-old boy, Edmund, find his lost sister and Aunty.
I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I felt that the mystery and tension were good, and it had me flipping pages until I got to the end of the book. The end, I found, was satisfying enough, and events unfolded in a way to keep your interest going.
Now my critique. As a Poe fan and someone who is heavily influenced by his work, I found this book odd for two reasons. The first reason was because it created a whole "detective" character for Poe, in that he was engaged in solving a murder mystery. It just seems very odd, and I don't know if it was based upon any truth at all.
Secondly, I had issues with the way Poe was portrayed, namely, as an unhinged, borderline abusive alcoholic, prone to rages and delusions. Yes, we know that Poe did have a drinking problem and had his own "demons" but the way that the man was portrayed here in this book, did not have my respect or sympathy. I thought it was over the top, and Poe was definitely not a likeable character. the author portrayed him as sort of a mean, over-the-top, delusional alcoholic who on one hand, had drunken blackouts, but on the other was a brilliant detective. Although I thought the book was well written and an interesting and entertaining story, I did not like the way Poe was portrayed at all, and could not grasp why he was a character in this story as it didn't seem to honour the man at all. I also thought the drinking was a bit much for a children's story and I didn't like the way he was always yelling at poor Edmund, and using Edmund's tragedy for fodder for a story. Just kind of a weird book for me.
I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I felt that the mystery and tension were good, and it had me flipping pages until I got to the end of the book. The end, I found, was satisfying enough, and events unfolded in a way to keep your interest going.
Now my critique. As a Poe fan and someone who is heavily influenced by his work, I found this book odd for two reasons. The first reason was because it created a whole "detective" character for Poe, in that he was engaged in solving a murder mystery. It just seems very odd, and I don't know if it was based upon any truth at all.
Secondly, I had issues with the way Poe was portrayed, namely, as an unhinged, borderline abusive alcoholic, prone to rages and delusions. Yes, we know that Poe did have a drinking problem and had his own "demons" but the way that the man was portrayed here in this book, did not have my respect or sympathy. I thought it was over the top, and Poe was definitely not a likeable character. the author portrayed him as sort of a mean, over-the-top, delusional alcoholic who on one hand, had drunken blackouts, but on the other was a brilliant detective. Although I thought the book was well written and an interesting and entertaining story, I did not like the way Poe was portrayed at all, and could not grasp why he was a character in this story as it didn't seem to honour the man at all. I also thought the drinking was a bit much for a children's story and I didn't like the way he was always yelling at poor Edmund, and using Edmund's tragedy for fodder for a story. Just kind of a weird book for me.
February 13, 2024
The Man Who Was Poe by Avi is a dark middle-grade historical fiction novel set in Providence, Rhode Island in 1848. Edmund and his twin sister are left alone while their aunt searches for their mom. When she does not return after a couple of days, Edmund ventures out for food. Upon his return to the locked room where he left his sister, he discovers she is missing. Frantic with worry, Edmund ventures out again and bumps into a mysterious writer by the name of Dupin. After Edmund tells his story, Dupin agrees to help him find his sister, and the mystery begins to unravel.
Overall, I found The Man Who Was Poe an enjoyable historical fiction novel. It is atmospheric and at times, suspenseful. I enjoyed the characters, both the protagonists and the antagonists. The villians are quite sinister and motivated by greed, even to the point that they will engage in kidnapping and murder. I especially loved that Edgar Allan Poe is a character who disguises himself as his own literary character C. Auguste Dupin. There are two mysteries, the one surrounding Edmund and the one surrounding Dupin/Poe. I did find it lagged in parts of the story, but for the most part, it held my interest until the end. I thought the ending wrapped up nicely. It was a 3.5-star read for me.
Overall, I found The Man Who Was Poe an enjoyable historical fiction novel. It is atmospheric and at times, suspenseful. I enjoyed the characters, both the protagonists and the antagonists. The villians are quite sinister and motivated by greed, even to the point that they will engage in kidnapping and murder. I especially loved that Edgar Allan Poe is a character who disguises himself as his own literary character C. Auguste Dupin. There are two mysteries, the one surrounding Edmund and the one surrounding Dupin/Poe. I did find it lagged in parts of the story, but for the most part, it held my interest until the end. I thought the ending wrapped up nicely. It was a 3.5-star read for me.
September 20, 2024
I picked this up because I’m interested in Poe and am taking a class on him this fall and enjoy fictional stories about real people. I like Avi’s historical fiction stories, like “Crispin: The Cross of Lead”, he’s a very good writer, but I don’t love them like I do other hifi stories. I’d recently read something else about Providence and had followed along on Google maps, so the setting for this story is familiar to me which increased my enjoyment.
Dupin is a frustrating character both for the protagonist and readers, and he is meant to be. The mystery is complex; following Dupin’s unraveling of it is more so. Sometimes I get tired of all the running hither and yon and back in stories and this one has plenty of that, though it all makes sense and is often suspenseful, taking place on dark streets where someone may be lurking. Overall, enjoyable.
Dupin is a frustrating character both for the protagonist and readers, and he is meant to be. The mystery is complex; following Dupin’s unraveling of it is more so. Sometimes I get tired of all the running hither and yon and back in stories and this one has plenty of that, though it all makes sense and is often suspenseful, taking place on dark streets where someone may be lurking. Overall, enjoyable.
June 6, 2021
As an adult, I loved it. I’ll admit, I would never have chosen this to read but I teach fourth grade. One of the boys in my class had to tell me about this book the entire time he was reading it. Then as our year was drawing to a close, he asked me how many pages would I have to read to finish it by year’s end so that he could have the book back. He loved it so much he wanted me to read it. That is the only reason I read it -was to make a connection with him because he loved it so much. Turns out, I loved it, also! Any book that can get a child that excited about it is a great book!
June 12, 2022
I love Avi's writing and have read many of his books. I hadn't read this one before and thought it would be a quick read between other stuff.
The word I would use to describe this is... oof. It's really lacking in plot, the mystery is a total flop for me, and the Poe element was just silly. Obviously this is a middle grade story, and I'm an adult, but this really did not work for me on any level. Poe is a total asshole (true to life, so no problem there) and felt unnecessary to the story. The way all the elements were connected was weird and the whole thing was messy. Hard pass on this one.
The word I would use to describe this is... oof. It's really lacking in plot, the mystery is a total flop for me, and the Poe element was just silly. Obviously this is a middle grade story, and I'm an adult, but this really did not work for me on any level. Poe is a total asshole (true to life, so no problem there) and felt unnecessary to the story. The way all the elements were connected was weird and the whole thing was messy. Hard pass on this one.
July 6, 2025
I read this book originally in the summer between 7th and 8th grade as part of a school reading requirement. That was allllll the way back in 1996, lol. I remember really enjoying it and have always been a big fan of Poe. The book came to mind again recently, so I picked up a used copy and gave it a re-read. I didn't remember any of the story, so it was like experiencing it for the first time. It was predictable and had a lot of explanations in a few short chapters, but I could see why I enjoyed it as a kid. It's definitely meant for a younger reader but a pretty good quick read.
February 7, 2021
DUDE I LOVE THIS BOOK I don't know why so many people trashed it, it kept you on edge and made you emotionally attached and wanted to know what the heck happened next and it's very unusual. Very confusing, like. I don't really want to give spoilers but it's so weird, in a likable way of course. This is one of my favorite books ever. Very mysterious and my heart was literally racing and the end was epic.
October 21, 2021
It was not one of my favorites among Avi's books (My least favorite though is Old Wolf.) I did like his interpretation of Poe and enjoyed some of the references Avi alluded to about Poe and his writing. The story was just a little bit slow and I disliked how the book was left on an unsatisfactory ending. Perhaps Avi wanted the story to be left off with a sense of ominousness which is how Poe himself ended his stories and life.
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