Edgar Allan Poe > Likes and Comments

Hello, everyone, and welcome to our Edgar Allan Poe marathon! 😊

In this post, I will provide some useful and interesting information. First, I’ll explain why we’re doing an Edgar Allan Poe marathon - which is to read one of his short stories each month. Then I’ll share some excerpts from an article about him and his literary accomplishments, so that we can fully appreciate his works. At the end of the post, I’ll add all the practical stuff, like where to read his stories and a list of what we will read/have read so far.

So, the main interest of our group is horror fiction, and to have a proper understanding of the development of that genre, we, as passionate horror aficionados, are of course delighted to commit ourselves to the works of the father of horror, to our master of the macabre. His literary legacy has cast a long shadow across history and inspired the hearts and minds of many authors with its penetrating and maddening darkness. And these authors have in turn left their own mark on horror fiction.

As I mentioned earlier, even though Poe, for many, is mostly known as a short story writer of horror fiction, he considered himself mainly a poet. He also dabbled in other genres (like science fiction) and practiced both literary theory and literary criticism. So much so that he’s had quite the influence on modern literature in general.

Here’s some interesting excerpts about him from poetryfoundation.org:

“Edgar Allan Poe’s stature as a major figure in world literature is primarily based on his ingenious and profound short stories, poems, and critical theories, which established a highly influential rationale for the short form in both poetry and fiction. Regarded in literary histories and handbooks as the architect of the modern short story, Poe was also the principal forerunner of the “art for art’s sake” movement in 19th-century European literature. Whereas earlier critics predominantly concerned themselves with moral or ideological generalities, Poe focused his criticism on the specifics of style and construction that contributed to a work’s effectiveness or failure. In his own work, he demonstrated a brilliant command of language and technique as well as an inspired and original imagination. Poe’s poetry and short stories greatly influenced the French Symbolists of the late 19th century, who in turn altered the direction of modern literature.”

[…]

“Poe made himself known not only as a superlative author of poetry and fiction, but also as a literary critic whose level of imagination and insight had hitherto been unapproached in American literature. ”

[…]

“Poe’s most conspicuous contribution to world literature derives from the analytical method he practiced both as a creative author and as a critic of the works of his contemporaries […] While Poe’s position includes the chief requisites of pure aestheticism, his emphasis on literary formalism was directly linked to his philosophical ideals: through the calculated use of language one may express, though always imperfectly, a vision of truth and the essential condition of human existence. Poe’s theory of literary creation is noted for two central points: first, a work must create a unity of effect on the reader to be considered successful; second, the production of this single effect should not be left to the hazards of accident or inspiration, but should to the minutest detail of style and subject be the result of rational deliberation on the part of the author. In poetry, this single effect must arouse the reader’s sense of beauty, an ideal that Poe closely associated with sadness, strangeness, and loss; in prose, the effect should be one revelatory of some truth, as in ‘tales of ratiocination’ or works evoking ‘terror, or passion, or horror.’”

[…]

“Aside from a common theoretical basis, there is a psychological intensity that is characteristic of Poe’s writings, especially the tales of horror that comprise his best and best-known works.

[…]

“The influence of Poe’s tales may be seen in the work of later writers, including Ambrose Bierce and H.P. Lovecraft, who belong to a distinct tradition of horror literature initiated by Poe. In addition to his achievement as creator of the modern horror tale, Poe is also credited with parenting two other popular genres: science fiction and the detective story. In such works as “The Unparalleled Adventure of Hans Pfaall” and “Von Kempelen and His Discovery,” Poe took advantage of the fascination for science and technology that emerged in the early 19th century to produce speculative and fantastic narratives which anticipate a type of literature that did not become widely practiced until the 20th century.”

[…]

"Poe also wrote poems that were intended to be read aloud. Experimenting with combinations of sound and rhythm, he employed such technical devices as repetition, parallelism, internal rhyme, alliteration, and assonance to produce works that are unique in American poetry for their haunting, musical quality."

[…]

“Just as Poe influenced many succeeding authors and is regarded as an ancestor of such major literary movements as Symbolism and Surrealism, he was also influenced by earlier literary figures and movements. In his use of the demonic and the grotesque, Poe evidenced the impact of the stories of E.T.A. Hoffman and the Gothic novels of Ann Radcliffe, while the despair and melancholy in much of his writing reflects an affinity with the Romantic movement of the early 19th century. It was Poe’s particular genius that in his work he gave consummate artistic form both to his personal obsessions and those of previous literary generations, at the same time creating new forms which provided a means of expression for future artists.”

[…]

“Today, Poe is recognized as one of the foremost progenitors of modern literature, both in its popular forms, such as horror and detective fiction, and in its more complex and self-conscious forms, which represent the essential artistic manner of the 20th century. “

If you are interested in learning even more about him, you can read the rest of the article here:

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poet...

And thanks to our fellow member Theresa, you may find a more extensive exploration of his life and works in the recently published (2023) biography A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe.

I also mentioned something else important earlier, which I will copy and paste in here:

“Poe’s stories are in the public domain, which means that his works are no longer covered by intellectual property rights, so they are usually easy to find and read for free online. In our case, I’ve located three different places where you can read Poe’s fiction:

http://www.free-short-stories.org.uk/...
https://poemuseum.org/poes-complete-w...
https://poestories.com/index.php

So, if you’re like me and have only read a few of Poe’s short stories or never actually read any of them yet, but would like to explore his works, you now finally have the opportunity to do so with other friendly enthusiasts 😊

When it comes to choosing which story to read each month, I suggest we read them (only the horror/science fiction stories) as they are presented in the collection The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. Based on what I can see, that’s 28 stories, but correct me if I'm wrong. I'm not an expert on his fiction, so I'll do my best to do some research beforehand and make sure each story could be classified as either horror or science fiction.”

Here is a list of short stories I’ve found to be either horror or science fiction (from Wikipedia, let me know if you find a better source, or if any of these are incorrectly categorized). I will highlight the ones we’ve read moving forward.

"Metzengerstein" - January 14, 1832 - Horror / Satire
"The Assignation" - January 1834 - Horror
"Berenice" - March 1835 - Horror
"Morella" - April 1835 - Horror
"King Pest" - September 1835 - Horror / Humor
"Shadow - A Parable" - September 1835 - Horror
"Silence - A Fable" – 1838 - Horror / Fantasy
"Ligeia" - September 1838 – Horror
"The Fall of the House of Usher" - September 1839 - Horror
"William Wilson" - October 1839 - Horror
"The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion" - December 1839 - Science fiction
"The Man of the Crowd" - December 1840 - Horror
"The Colloquy of Monos and Una" - August 1841 - Science fiction
"The Oval Portrait" - April 1842 - Horror
"The Masque of the Red Death" - May 1842 - Horror
"The Pit and the Pendulum" - 1842–1843 - Horror
"The Tell-Tale Heart" - January 1843 - Horror
"The Black Cat" - August 19, 1843 - Horror
"A Tale of the Ragged Mountains" - April 1844 - Science fiction, Adventure
"The Premature Burial" - July 31, 1844 - Horror
"Mesmeric Revelation" - August 1844 - Science fiction
"The Oblong Box" - September 1844 - Horror / Ratiocination
"The Power of Words" June 1845 - Science fiction
"The Imp of the Perverse" - July 1845 - Horror
"The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar" - Horror / Science fiction / Hoax
"The Cask of Amontillado" - November 1846 - Horror
"Mellonta Tauta" - February 1849 - Science fiction / Hoax
"Hop-Frog" - March 17, 1849 - Horror

We’ll start with “The Fall of the House of Usher”. I’ll create a new discussion thread for it come September, with some information specific to that short story. And hey, maybe I’ll even throw in some of his poetry while I'm at it! :D

Absolutely fantastic job, Nicolai, I mean seriously...
Count me in for these short stories and let's all get on board with this, one of the true masters of the creepy and fantastical, if you ask me, one f*cked up bloke with a mind like a mattress, I can only squirm at night in admiration for this man and his madness.

Join in folks, Nicolai is getting us down to basics on the roots or horror and setting the foundations for everything we read today.

Thanks again, mate!

Thanks for all your work on this, Nicolai! It's great to have some background on the author before we dig into his works! I'm all pumped up and ready to start The Fall of the House of Usher!

Poe is one of my all time favorite authors. Look forward to rereading some of his work.

Hi Nicolai, is the story for December 2024 'Berenice'? Thanks 🧚‍♀️🙋🏼.

Valerie Book Valkyrie wrote: "Hi Nicolai, is the story for December 2024 'Berenice'? Thanks 🧚‍♀️🙋🏼."

Yeah, I'd also like to know?

I see Berenice, third on the list:

"Metzengerstein" - January 14, 1832 - Horror / Satire
"The Assignation" - January 1834 - Horror
"Berenice" - March 1835 - Horror

Hi there! Yes, so it would seem. I'll get the thread started with my usual research in the next couple of days :)

Nicolai Alexander wrote: "Hi there! Yes, so it would seem. I'll get the thread started with my usual research in the next couple of days :)"

Thanks, mate!

Nicolai Alexander wrote: "Hi there! Yes, so it would seem. I'll get the thread started with my usual research in the next couple of days :)"

I'm looking forward to it, thank you! I really enjoy all the extra tidbits of information you add to the discussion. It really helps give these stories context.

Balthazarinblue wrote: "Nicolai Alexander wrote: "Hi there! Yes, so it would seem. I'll get the thread started with my usual research in the next couple of days :)"

I'm looking forward to it, thank you! I really enjoy al..."

I'm so glad to hear that you appreciate it! I also think it's fun to do some research as well, as I not only get a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the stories, I feel like I get to know Poe more and more as well.

Today is Edgar Allan Poe's Birthday!

https://www.writerswrite.co.za/litera...

Netanella wrote: "Today is Edgar Allan Poe's Birthday!

https://www.writerswrite.co.za/litera..."

Oh, wow, so it is! Thanks for the reminder😁

It was interesting to me that EAP wrote only one full length novel,
THE NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM OF NANTUCKET.
It was written fairly early in his writing repertoire. If you like, you can read my (spoiler hidden) review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

including a link to read it for free, Enjoy 🧚‍♀️🙋🏼!

Valerie Book Valkyrie wrote: "It was interesting to me that EAP wrote only one full length novel,
THE NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM OF NANTUCKET.
It was written fairly early in his writing repertoire. If you like, you can read..."

Yay! Valerie, you finished it! I'm scurrying over to read your review.

Thanks Netanella!. It took me awhile because my eyes have a difficult time trying to screen-read for more than several minutes at a time🧚‍♀️🙋🏼.

Will we be continuing with The Oval Portrait this month? No pressure, Nicolai Alexander. I appreciate how much work you put into this for us!

Balthazarinblue wrote: "Will we be continuing with The Oval Portrait this month? No pressure, Nicolai Alexander. I appreciate how much work you put into this for us!"

Hello! Yes, I would like to continue with Poe's short stories. I just wanted to take one month off during the summer :) I also wanted to ask if there still is interest for me to continue with Poe or if you would like me to introduce stories from other writers? I could go back and forth, but only if there's interest. Personally, I would like to continue with Poe, but wouldn't mind contributing to the group in other ways :)

I'm with those who want to continue with Poe, thanks Nicolai🧚‍♀️🙋🏼!

Take all the time off that you need! But yes, I'm in favour of continuing with Poe. We're getting close to some of his big hits (Masque of the Red Death, The Tell-Tale Heart) and I'm excited to read everyone's thoughts.

I concur with the Poe. Let’s continue, at your pace, Nicolai!

Great! Thank you so much!😁

I'd like to apologize for not showing more interest in this and flaking recently, you know, the usual excuses about overworking and group commitments, yet I seem to find time to squeeze in extra buddy reads!

I feel the same way about EAP as I do about Stephen King, also strongly featured in this group, as having no intention of reading every last syllable by these authors because of my personal need to diversify.

That's no negative reflection on you, Nicolai, I think you're a wonderfully intelligent person and a great contributor, so let's keep going with EAP at your own behest and feel free to add other authors and works as you deem fit.

There's tons and tons of short stories going back, especially H.P. Lovecraft and in science fiction, so it's full support from me.

I'd love to join in! I love Edgar Allen Poe. :)

What happened with the story
"The Colloquy of Monos and Una"? Why would we want to put a line through it?

Valerie Book Valkyrie wrote: "What happened with the story
"The Colloquy of Monos and Una"? Why would we want to put a line through it?"

It seems like it's not science fiction or horror short story after all :( It's more like a philosophical conversation about death :)

Valerie Book Valkyrie wrote: "What happened with the story
"The Colloquy of Monos and Una"? Why would we want to put a line through it?"

Good question.
If it's an important piece of EAP work it should probably be included regardless of genre, but that's for Nicolai to decide.

I understand the confusion, but the original idea/intent wasn't to read all of Poe's stories. The stories on our list don't even cover half of his short stories in the first place, so, it's probably better to just stick to the ones who seem to have the most overlap with the genres our group and this activity is intended for :)

In general, there are plenty of important short stories outside horror/science fiction, but we won't have time to cover them all if we want to read horror/science fiction from other authors at some point as well.

Nicolai Alexander wrote: "In general, there are plenty of important short stories outside horror/science fiction, but we won't have time to cover them all if we want to read horror/science fiction from other authors at some point as well."

This makes sense to me. And knowing the story is out there makes it tempting to read on my own, regardless of genre. :)

Thanks Richard, Theresa, and Nicolai 👍🏽.

Well now, this seems just the thing for me.
I've recently courted the idea of a long-term project on short-form literature, mainly poetry and stories, courtesy of some omnibus editions of the Romantic authors I've been teaching.

I might not keep a regular monthly schedule and will probably end up reading in stops and starts, but I'll do my best to join the discussions.

Outstanding thread! So much great info and insight here.
Reading about Poe is almost as enjoyable as reading Poe. Jules Verne referred to Poe as, “The Leader of the Cult of the Unusual.”
George Lippard said, “Poe was born a poet, his mind is stamped with the impress of genius. He is, perhaps, the most original writer that ever existed in America.”

👆Thanks, Adam.

It's a bit quiet in here lately.

I'll get the next one up either this evening or tomorrow :)

Thanks Nicolai! I've been pining for our monthly Poe parables, puzzles, and perplexities. Glad you're back and getting things going again 🧚‍♀️🙋🏼👍!

Poe was a fascinating individual, living two lives at once, much like Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Apparently he was severely allergic to alcohol and one drop would send him off in week long benders of whoring and gambling.
His writing speaks for itself. A true master of literature.

Josh wrote: "Poe was a fascinating individual, living two lives at once, much like Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Apparently he was severely allergic to alcohol and one drop would send him off in week long bender..."

Yeah, I get that addiction thing, it's a downward spiral and once you get started it's impossible to stop until you're worn out or broke or both.

In many cases it can lead to depression if you don't successfully navigate the 'triggers'.

EAP only lived to 40, so be careful out there.

I'm sure our resident EAP expert, Nicolai, has a lot more to say about it than me.