Overview
Millions of students have read, recited, and often memorized the opening line from Edgar Allan Poe's dark poem, The Raven. But Poe is remembered not only for his poetry. He also wrote about seventy short stories and was the creator of two literary forms that readers everywhere enjoy -- the detective story and the horror thriller. Poe's life was short, and painful. He struggled with alcohol, poverty, personal tragedy, and professional failure, yet is remembered as one of America's literary giants. Milton Meltzer explores that conundrum as he examines who Poe was, what he sprang from, why and how he wrote, the troubled life he led as one of the first American writers to try to make a living solely by their pen, and why his appeal is so enduring.Synopsis
Millions of students have read, recited, and often memorized the opening line from Edgar Allan Poe's dark poem, The Raven. But Poe is remembered not only for his poetry. He also wrote about seventy short stories and was the creator of two literary forms that readers everywhere enjoy -- the detective story and the horror thriller. Poe's life was short, and painful. He struggled with alcohol, poverty, personal tragedy, and professional failure, yet is remembered as one of America's literary giants. Milton Meltzer explores that conundrum as he examines who Poe was, what he sprang from, why and how he wrote, the troubled life he led as one of the first American writers to try to make a living solely by their pen, and why his appeal is so enduring.
Kim Zach - VOYA
Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most recognized names in American literature for poems such as "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee." The haunting, lyrical quality of his writing echoed his struggles with alcoholism, depression, and the deaths of his young mother, his foster mother, and his wife. But what many people do not realize is that Poe was considered a pioneer of the science fiction genre and that in 1841 he wrote what is thought by some to be the first detective story. The level of research makes this latest biography by Meltzer, who has also authored works on Langston Hughes, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman, a fascinating, informative read. Meltzer is an expert at meshing history and personality. Readers understand Poe better when they see his life against the backdrop of important American historical details such as the antislavery movement and the growing division between the wealthy and the poor. This resource also shows that literary advances of the day gave writers more opportunities for publication but not necessarily payment. Poe was one of the first early American writers who attempted to survive on his writing income alone, but he lived and died in poverty. This book holds appeal for those interested in American history as well as the works of Poe. The book design itself should attract readers. The cover background is black and has an illustration of Poe with a raven on his shoulder. Inside, the first pages of each chapter are black with splashes of dark purple, and the chapter titles are in a Gothic-looking font. VOYA CODES: 5Q 2P M J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8;Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Twenty-First Century, 144p.; Index. Illus. Photos. Biblio. Further Reading. Chronology., Ages 11 to 18.
Editorials
Children's Literature
If ever a poet fit the melancholy Romantic notion of a starving genius, it was Edgar Allan Poe. Dying in 1849, he lived just forty years, long enough to write some memorable poems and riveting Gothic horror tales and to introduce the detective story to the world. Meltzer, writer of many informational books and winner of numerous awards, tells Poe's gloomy story of poverty, alcoholism, illness and death in the context of the early years of the nineteenth century. We learn about the precarious world of magazine writing and publishing, the early deaths from tuberculosis, the backbiting and betrayals of literary critics, one of whom was Poe himself. The book's design, as if to emphasize the drama of Poe's life, features jet black endpapers, a black and purple title page, and black introductory chapter pages, each with a large purple blob (is it an inkblot or a bloodspot?). Despite his long writing experience, Meltzer sometimes delivers awkward prose, but the story is still so engrossing that it's hard to put down. While the author notes Poe's weaknesses—his sense of superiority, his indifference to slavery and racism, his self-destructive addiction to alcohol—we feel his desperation over his inability to earn enough for a decent life, and his grief at the illness and death of his beloved young wife, Virginia. Numerous well-chosen illustrations add to the interest. A usefully-arranged bibliography, a detailed chronology of Poe's life, and a helpful index should facilitate further reading and research. 2003, Twenty-First Century/Millbrook, Ages 12 up.— Barbara L. Talcroft
VOYA
Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most recognized names in American literature for poems such as "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee." The haunting, lyrical quality of his writing echoed his struggles with alcoholism, depression, and the deaths of his young mother, his foster mother, and his wife. But what many people do not realize is that Poe was considered a pioneer of the science fiction genre and that in 1841 he wrote what is thought by some to be the first detective story. The level of research makes this latest biography by Meltzer, who has also authored works on Langston Hughes, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman, a fascinating, informative read. Meltzer is an expert at meshing history and personality. Readers understand Poe better when they see his life against the backdrop of important American historical details such as the antislavery movement and the growing division between the wealthy and the poor. This resource also shows that literary advances of the day gave writers more opportunities for publication but not necessarily payment. Poe was one of the first early American writers who attempted to survive on his writing income alone, but he lived and died in poverty. This book holds appeal for those interested in American history as well as the works of Poe. The book design itself should attract readers. The cover background is black and has an illustration of Poe with a raven on his shoulder. Inside, the first pages of each chapter are black with splashes of dark purple, and the chapter titles are in a Gothic-looking font. VOYA CODES: 5Q 2P M J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8;Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Twenty-First Century, 144p.; Index. Illus. Photos. Biblio. Further Reading. Chronology., Ages 11 to 18.—Kim Zach