“The most wild, yet most homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor solicit belief. Mad indeed would I be to expect it, in a case where my very senses reject their own evidence. Yet, mad am I not —and very surely do I not dream”.
From The Black Cat, by Edgar Allen Poe. Found in Tales of Conscience if you’re interested
I started reading Poe before I had a “starter bra”. I was 11 or so, no master in comprehension of the alliteration and metaphors he was so fond of, but I was captivated. A poet, a writer, a brilliant analytical thinker, possibly a rabid drunk. His work fascinated me.
So many lines, so little time.
“It was night, and the rain fell; and falling, it was rain, but, having fallen, it was blood”
While thinking about what I wanted to contribute to the blogsphsere for Halloween the above line, from Poe’s Silence — A Fable, found here in Romances and Death, was one of many lines, from one of the most brilliant (if not mad) writers/poets of the time, which came to mind.
Men have called me mad; but the question is not yet settled, whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence – whether much that is glorious– whether all that is profound – does not spring from disease of thought – from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the general intellect. From Eleonora. Something to think about when pondering the sanity of “Alice in Wonderland or Not”.
I decided to go to the shelf of the macabre for reading material. I needed to go no further than my living room where sits ”The Collector’s Arnheim Edition” of The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe. A collection I purchased at an auction several years back, while my contemporaries were shopping at the mall. Attending auctions searching for esoterica, paperweights, and old books is still a favored pastime.
As far as I can tell this set has the original leather and boards, was published in 1902 by “G.P. Putnam and Son’s” off the “The Knickerbocker Press”, and is 167 of the 300 signed and numbered sets available. The tissue guarded frontis gravure sepia plates by Frederick Simpson Coburn are almost perfect.
I have other Poe collections, newer and less likely to need care with reading, causing this collection to be left to itself on the shelf wanting of preservation. I looked over the set when I first purchased it, but hadn’t taken a studied look through these volumes until last night.
These volumes contain some of his more obscure stuff, much of which I have not read. ( The Philosophy of Furniture )
I will therefore spend the week of the witches, goblins, Purloined Letters, Pits, Pendulums, and Tell –Tale Hearts, looking through them all.
Last night I lost myself in Poe for a couple of hours. There is something to be said for warm Australian Merlot, and Poe, on a cold rainy night.
I highly recommend it.
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Read some Poe. You might even come up with a Halloween costume no one else has thought of.
Edgar Allan Poe Collection — Bartleby
Free web books University of Adelaide
Edgar Allan Poe National Historical Site
The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore
Edgar Allen Poe — Biography and Works
For those who partake in the holiday, just in case I don’t post before then, Happy Halloween.
Tags: Literature, poetry
Oooooh, I have book envy.
Ahh, Poe. Dark, dreary, depressing … Catholic? Romantic? “I saw thee on they bridal day-/When a burning blush came o’er thee,/Though happiness around thee lay,/The world all love before thee:” — Song.
I love the fact that he wrote an ode of welcome to his mother-in-law, how he was looking forward to calling her “mother” as his own mother had died when he was young.
But my favorite is still “The Conqueror Worm” … read it and be creeped :D
Olivia, you just added one more reason you’re awesome to my list. I read The Gold Bug in second grade, and I doubt a year has gone by since that I haven’t read Poe. In High School there were two years I nearly flunked all my English classes because I would only read Poe and Vonnegut. Grotesquely tolerant professors gave me Cs.
And Coyote Mike, if you don’t like dark and depressing, Poe also wrote some fairly funny satire, the first mysteries, and poetry some of which is dark and some of which would make a great Hallmark movie.
From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not bring
My passions from a common spring.
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I loved, I loved alone.
Then– in my childhood, in the dawn
Of a most stormy life– was drawn
From every depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still:
From the torrent, or the fountain,
From the red cliff of the mountain,
From the sun that round me rolled
In its autumn tint of gold,
From the lightning in the sky
As it passed me flying by,
From the thunder and the storm,
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view.
Poe kicks some ass.
I don’t think you need a masters in alliteration and metaphors to appreciate beauty in language, and amazing thoughts
People say the English language isn’t beautiful, but they mistake romance and superfical charm for beauty
I do so love your blog. One never knows what one will find here
Thanks for brightening my dismal rainy night
I missed your pre-starter bra era.
“A Dream Within A Dream” is one of my favorite poems.
“The Raven” still wins.
I’ve read more of Poe’s poetry than his stories.
I have to catch up.
I can’t believe that you’re a Poe fan. He was my idol along with some other authors, that’s what led me to a degree in English Lit. I even went so far to fly to VA. to see the house in which he resided.
The Raven is one of my favorite poems and who can’t think of Vincent Price without thinking about Poe, the inventor of the mystery story.
Let’s not forget the “Pit and the Pendulum, nor “Tell-tale Heart.
You rock, and I would one day like to, in person, thank you for making my life more special for having read your words.
I haven’t read Poe for some time.
Great idea for Halloween, well done cooper.
That set of books is over a hundred years old, I’d be tenpted to put it back on the shelf. What if you had spilled that Australian merlot on those books?;)
Very good choice. Poe is a favorite of mine. I had a complete works edition in the Nav, but when I moved to a different base, I was forced, due to load, to leave behind some books. My roommate promised to send Poe ahead; alas, his promise was naught.
I’ve heard differing opinions on Poe’s drunkeness. It seems that he was intensely allergic to alcohol. Given the times, before potable water was easily had, having to drink ale may have been his real problem. Course, who can know: some tried to undermine Poe’s rep, Poe didn’t do himself many favors and he was gone too early from the Earth to put straight his life or have people that truly cared. But what is attributable to him is a vast array of poems, mysteries and essays. Imagine his abilities in this era!!! (Stephen King get outta of the fucking way.)
Adios!
Poe and “The Raven” are long time friends of mine.…
“Annabel Lee” inspired me to name my poetry blog …PoeARTica.….
“for a poem’s sake” and “art for art’s sake” are all we need to know.….
Good Choice — Poe.
Brilliant you were, now more so.
Poe was funnier than folks give him credit for.
You have some Poe fans here. Encouraging.
My 9th grade English teacher had a severe Poe obsession.
Not significant I know.
Hello Cooper!
I’m back!
kisses,
hanna
coyote:Yeah, It’s a pretty sweet set.
Doug: Ew, What are the other reasons?
Poe did write some funny stuff I am happy to see you know that. But of course you knew it first.
John: He does kick some ass.
Pia: No, but t that age those dreams of hearts beating under the floorboards are kind of frightening.;)
Since I wrote that the sun has come out, I hope where you are too.
G: Didn’t miss much. I do like that poem.
Morgan: I’m glad to have you loving on Poe.
It is good to renew my acquaintance with Poe every so often.
jacob: I thought about that, but like I said they contain some obscure stuff so I had to take them off the shelf to get at it.
JasonP: We will never know. Too bad your friends didn’t follow up. Stephen King not even in the same universe.
Laketrees: It is awesome to know you named your blog in that manner.
joeg:
He was funny, as I said above and Doug noted.
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Glad I have so many Poe lovers reading.
hanna: I didn’t see you there buried in all the comments, so tiny you are.
Hugs girlfriend.
Weaned on Poe — a good return. Thanks.
whoa… just when I get comfy in that old couch, cooper changes the wallpaper. Right to the color of a soft and warm Poe book.
Wait, that cannot be right. There’s not much soft and warm about Poe. A merlot, perhaps, but not a Poe. Although I have a couple of his works on my library shelves (yes, with over 2000 hardcover titles, I can call it a library; it’s even got dark cherry shelving), I haven’t touched his stuff in years.
Jane Austen is more my speed. No, really.
Okay, not really. The two titles I recently finished are Henry Hobhouse’s Seeds of Change: six plants that transformed mankind and Mark Kurlansky’s Salt: a world history. Fascinating stuff.
sandra: I’ve yet to be weaned.
SK: Wow, a reader. I’m a Poe Ho what can I say. Looks like i’m on good company though.
it’s my Halloween costume.
I grew up in Ellicott City, yet rarely read Poe,visited his grave though.
I think it’s a good week to start. I have been thinking about finding something different to read, this works.
Interesting looks, nice.
I love the new look! And I too have book envy. Poe always reminds me of Halloween so this post is very appropriate. I’d love to comment more, but I’m getting ready to board a plane to come home … thinking of you, XINE
Hmmm. I’ve never read too much Poe. Now I just might at your urging.
Where would my literary diet be without you to serve as my nutritionist, Miss Cooper?
Hi Coop, I am glad to see you are back online. was beginning to worry I’d have to settle with the Hell on Earth Cooper.…
Allan Poe has always been one of my favorites. I read the Pit and the Pendulum when I was about 15 and was so impressed it lead me to a research of which the results were me becoming a fan of Roger Corman and from there B movies and movies in general.
Thanks for the awesome Allan Poe links. you rock as usual!
How could I forget (must be the comments problem thing…) — congratulations for the new design. Mine is white but I am a grate fan of black ones!
Good to see so many Poe fans, and that you are one, too. The classics are just that for a reason … beautiful writing never goes out of style.
Love your new look.
Casey: You’re kidding. Shame on you. ;)
Christine: Thanks, I needed a costume for Halloween. Hope you trip was grand. I’ll be over later to see if you got home alright.
Gil: Was I off line? Oh dear. I was off line when I upgraded for less than an hour and the comments here were a little messes up when I switched themes but I didn’t know of any other problem.Poe has some great stuff, stuff not as well known. I highly recommend it all.
Harriett: I’m glad you like him as well. Hope you are recovered from your show.
Your friend is your need answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with
thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him wim your hunger, and you seek him for peace. When your friend speaks his mind you fear not me “nay” in your own mind, nor do you withhold the “ay”.
And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his
heart;For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his
absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from me plain.And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of his own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only yhe unprofitable is caught.
And let your best be for your friend.
lf he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know the flood
also.For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours te live.
For it is his te fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and
sharing of pleasures. Far in the dew of little things the heart finds its moming and is refreshed.
you see to me now?