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Images of America: Maryland
Edgar Allan Poe's Baltimore
Edgar Allan Poe wrote his great works while living in several cities on the East Coast of the United States, but Baltimore's claim to him is special. His ancestors settled in the burgeoning town on the Chesapeake during the 18th century, and it was in Baltimore that he found refuge when his foster family in Virginia shut him out. Most importantly, it was here that he was first paid for his literary work. If Baltimore discovered Poe, it also has the inglorious honor of being the place that destroyed him. On October 7, 1849, he died in this city, then known as "Mob Town." Edgar Allan Poe's Baltimore is the first book to explore the poet's life in this port city and in the quaint little house on Amity Street, where he once wrote.
- GenresHistoryNonfictionTravel
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 12, 2025
Poe And Baltimore
Edgar Allan Poe (1809 -- 1849) lived in Baltimore from 1833 -- 1835 and died destitute in the city in 1849. Although he lived in several other cities including New York, Philadelphia and Richmond, Baltimore treasures its connection with Poe. David Gaylin's book, "Edgar Allan Poe's Baltimore (2015), explores Poe's life and the Baltimore in which Poe lived. Gaylin, a lifelong student of Poe and a Baltimore native, worked in partnership with Poe Baltimore, a non-profit organization founded in 2013 to maintain the Baltimore house in which Poe lived at 203 North Amity Street. Poe Baltimore describes its mission as creating, funding, maintaining and interpreting The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum and celebrating the legacy of one of Baltimore’s most famous residents.
This short book of 128 pages consists of photographs and a running text; yet it is unique in the view it gives of Baltimore and Poe. The book offers a rare look at an important American city in the years before the Civil War. Gaylin has explored various archives to collect maps, drawings and daguerreotypes from the late eighteenth century to about 1850. The book shows the residential areas, commercial portions, harbor, buildings, open-air markets, churches, streets, and monumentation of a distinctive American city. The book also gives the reader a history of the changes in Baltimore's fortunes resulting from the building of railroads, the Civil War, and other factors. Gaylin concentrates on an 1835 riot in the city following a bank failure which earned Baltimore the nickname of ""Mob Town". Even without the connection to Poe, the discussion and pictures of early Baltimore makes this book worthwhile and entertaining.
Poe remains the focus of the book and Gaylin threads the story of his life into his depiction of the city. The book briefly tells the story of Poe's connection to Baltimore even though his residence in the city was brief. The book includes photos of the streets Poe walked and the homes of the friends who helped Poe further his literary ambitions. The book describes Poe's home, currently a National Historical Landmark, where he lived with his young wife and her mother, and its environs. There are extensive photographs of the site on which a delirious, shabbily-dressed Poe was discovered in 1849 a few days before his death in a Baltimore hospital. The book offers photographs and history of Poe's grave and memorial at the Westminster Burial Ground which at the time of Poe's death was part of Westminster Presbyterian Church. The book also discusses the history of the famous statue of Poe by Sir Moses Ezkiel. In 1921, the statue was installed in Baltimore's Wyman Park: it was moved to its current location at the University of Baltimore Law School Plaza in 1983. Thus, in its short space, the book offers a moving portrayal of Poe's life and of his memory in Baltimore.
This book is part of the "Images of America" series which captures local American history in short books of photographs. The book brings Poe and his Baltimore to life. I was absorbed in the short time it took to read this book. The book made me think about Poe again, about poems and stories I have read over the years and about works I have missed. It made me think about the Baltimore, a city I love and have visited many times even though somehow I have missed visiting the Poe House and Museum.
Robin Friedman
Edgar Allan Poe (1809 -- 1849) lived in Baltimore from 1833 -- 1835 and died destitute in the city in 1849. Although he lived in several other cities including New York, Philadelphia and Richmond, Baltimore treasures its connection with Poe. David Gaylin's book, "Edgar Allan Poe's Baltimore (2015), explores Poe's life and the Baltimore in which Poe lived. Gaylin, a lifelong student of Poe and a Baltimore native, worked in partnership with Poe Baltimore, a non-profit organization founded in 2013 to maintain the Baltimore house in which Poe lived at 203 North Amity Street. Poe Baltimore describes its mission as creating, funding, maintaining and interpreting The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum and celebrating the legacy of one of Baltimore’s most famous residents.
This short book of 128 pages consists of photographs and a running text; yet it is unique in the view it gives of Baltimore and Poe. The book offers a rare look at an important American city in the years before the Civil War. Gaylin has explored various archives to collect maps, drawings and daguerreotypes from the late eighteenth century to about 1850. The book shows the residential areas, commercial portions, harbor, buildings, open-air markets, churches, streets, and monumentation of a distinctive American city. The book also gives the reader a history of the changes in Baltimore's fortunes resulting from the building of railroads, the Civil War, and other factors. Gaylin concentrates on an 1835 riot in the city following a bank failure which earned Baltimore the nickname of ""Mob Town". Even without the connection to Poe, the discussion and pictures of early Baltimore makes this book worthwhile and entertaining.
Poe remains the focus of the book and Gaylin threads the story of his life into his depiction of the city. The book briefly tells the story of Poe's connection to Baltimore even though his residence in the city was brief. The book includes photos of the streets Poe walked and the homes of the friends who helped Poe further his literary ambitions. The book describes Poe's home, currently a National Historical Landmark, where he lived with his young wife and her mother, and its environs. There are extensive photographs of the site on which a delirious, shabbily-dressed Poe was discovered in 1849 a few days before his death in a Baltimore hospital. The book offers photographs and history of Poe's grave and memorial at the Westminster Burial Ground which at the time of Poe's death was part of Westminster Presbyterian Church. The book also discusses the history of the famous statue of Poe by Sir Moses Ezkiel. In 1921, the statue was installed in Baltimore's Wyman Park: it was moved to its current location at the University of Baltimore Law School Plaza in 1983. Thus, in its short space, the book offers a moving portrayal of Poe's life and of his memory in Baltimore.
This book is part of the "Images of America" series which captures local American history in short books of photographs. The book brings Poe and his Baltimore to life. I was absorbed in the short time it took to read this book. The book made me think about Poe again, about poems and stories I have read over the years and about works I have missed. It made me think about the Baltimore, a city I love and have visited many times even though somehow I have missed visiting the Poe House and Museum.
Robin Friedman
January 13, 2019
I'm preparing for a short trip to Baltimore. Gaylin's book gives so much information about Edgar Allan Poe and his relationship to Baltimore that I will be looking for Poe's presence every place I go. This book would be an excellent resource for a literature teacher.
October 5, 2025
Some great history of Poe and Baltimore. I appreciate the maps and photos, but I also appreciate that the author didn't get into a lot of the conjecture and lore around Poe's death. That's for another book, and this one stuck to its purpose well.
4.75*
4.75*
November 18, 2019
Considering how little time Poe actually spent in Baltimore, the author did a phenomenal job of filling the book with more than just pictures of the grave, house, and statue. Related buildings and places that Poe frequented are showcased, as well is a lot of history of the city itself.
Gaylin presents a snapshot of the city in the early 19th century rather than a grand story, and the book is all the more interesting for it. Sure this will appeal to a niche audience, but most of the Images of America books do.
Gaylin presents a snapshot of the city in the early 19th century rather than a grand story, and the book is all the more interesting for it. Sure this will appeal to a niche audience, but most of the Images of America books do.
September 17, 2015
If you are a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, love Baltimore history, are enchanted by Poe's Baltimore story - or all three - you need this book! Kudos to Mr. Gaylin.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews