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Reckless Excesses: The Missing Poe
“Ill-fated and mysterious man! — bewildered in the brilliancy of thine own imagination, and fallen in the flames of thine own youth.”
Many biographies have been written about Poe. The facts of his short but brilliant life are known. But the man himself eludes us. Who was the man behind the literary legend? What truly motivated him? What were his demons? Why did he write what he wrote?
Reckless Excesses seeks the missing Poe in his letters, his tales, his poetry and his journalism. But also in his lies, his omissions, his manipulations and his disappearances. The key to understanding Poe is found in the spring of 1827 when he vanished, apparently to fight for Greek independence.
This unconventional study takes a non-chronological journey into the gaps and the mysteries of Poe’s life, finding the man between the lines, and examining afresh the critical clues hidden in plain sight. The author invites the reader to become a detective among Poe's writings, carefully examining key texts in search of the truth.
Restless Excesses considers such questions
Was Poe insane? Autistic? Gay?
Was Poe actually a good poet?
What was behind his dark and gothic tales?
Was Poe the Vincent van Gogh of his generation?
What were Poe’s writing habits?
Who most influenced Poe?
Was he attractive to women?
Who was his greatest love?
Why did he lie about so many personal details?
Why did he use false names?
Was he romantic or abusive?
Did he attempt suicide?
Did Poe suffer from depression?
Was he America’s first professional writer?
In the final analysis, was Poe a genius?
The book contains an appendix chronology of Poe’s life and major publications.
Many biographies have been written about Poe. The facts of his short but brilliant life are known. But the man himself eludes us. Who was the man behind the literary legend? What truly motivated him? What were his demons? Why did he write what he wrote?
Reckless Excesses seeks the missing Poe in his letters, his tales, his poetry and his journalism. But also in his lies, his omissions, his manipulations and his disappearances. The key to understanding Poe is found in the spring of 1827 when he vanished, apparently to fight for Greek independence.
This unconventional study takes a non-chronological journey into the gaps and the mysteries of Poe’s life, finding the man between the lines, and examining afresh the critical clues hidden in plain sight. The author invites the reader to become a detective among Poe's writings, carefully examining key texts in search of the truth.
Restless Excesses considers such questions
Was Poe insane? Autistic? Gay?
Was Poe actually a good poet?
What was behind his dark and gothic tales?
Was Poe the Vincent van Gogh of his generation?
What were Poe’s writing habits?
Who most influenced Poe?
Was he attractive to women?
Who was his greatest love?
Why did he lie about so many personal details?
Why did he use false names?
Was he romantic or abusive?
Did he attempt suicide?
Did Poe suffer from depression?
Was he America’s first professional writer?
In the final analysis, was Poe a genius?
The book contains an appendix chronology of Poe’s life and major publications.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2025
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 16, 2025
Stanley’s conversational yet eloquent style makes this erudite and thoroughly researched book a surprisingly easy read. He explores the complexities of Edgar Allan Poe’s life, particularly his bizarre relationships with women, not only through Poe’s poems and tales but also by referring to copious quotations from other poets, authors, journalists and letters by his contemporaries.
This is a book that warrants a second reading alongside some of the tales and poems that Stanley so proficiently critiques but before I do that I intend to read one of this versatile author’s other books.
This is a book that warrants a second reading alongside some of the tales and poems that Stanley so proficiently critiques but before I do that I intend to read one of this versatile author’s other books.
Displaying 1 of 1 review