Product Description

Few authors can claim Edgar Allan Poe's influence on literary and popular culture. During his short and turbulent life, he invented the modern detective story and horror genres with such immortal works as "The Raven", "The Tell-Tale Heart", and "The Pit and the Pendulum". Best known for the haunting melody of his poetry and prose, Poe also wrote numerous critical articles and reviews, essays and magazine articles on a variety of subjects. Drawing from a broad range of sources, such as personal correspondence and reviews, this comprehensive reference covers all of Poe's major works and most minor works. As well as information on Poe's personal life, the entries include synopses of his works, and descriptions of his characters.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1794439 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

From Library Journal
In her introduction, Sova (Agatha Christie, A to Z, LJ 8/15/96) claims that our view of Poe has depended on only the few poems and short stories anthologized in high school textbooks. To counter that view, this comprehensive reference work, consisting of some 3400 entries and illustrated with 50 black-and-white illustrations, treats all of the author's work some 350 stories, poems, essays, and articles. Together with the entries covering Poe's literary works (including journalistic pieces and reviews) are factual treatments of the people, places, and events associated with him. Entries are generally short, with major works given longer treatment under the subheadings "Publishing and Dramatization History," "Characters," and "Plot Synopsis." The encyclopedia contains chronologies of the author's life and work, a directory of "Poe Research Collections," and a selective bibliography. This volume joins 13 other books in the publisher's "Literary A to Z" series. The Poe Encyclopedia (Greenwood, 1997), edited by Frederick S. Frank and Tony Magistrale, is more scholarly and more comprehensive (it contains 1900 entries, each with its own bibliography, and a massive bibliography ends the book). But its hefty price tag makes it less desirable for smaller libraries. Recommended for American literature reference collections. Paul D'Alessandro, Portland P.L., ME
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
More than 3,400 entries chart the life and work of an author whose "Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841) is often described as the first detective story. Entries are arranged alphabetically and cover works (including essays and reviews as well as poems and tales) and characters. Entries for works contain publishing and dramatization history, a list of characters, and a synopsis of the plot. There is also coverage of people, places, and publications that played a role in Poe's life or helped shape his literary development. The biographical entries treat family, friends, and associates, as well as writers such as Charles Baudelaire, who translated Poe into French, and Washington Irving, considered to have been an influence despite the fact that Poe did not care for his style. Coverage extends into the twentieth century with entries (Corman, Roger; Price, Vincent) related to film and musical adaptations.

Terms in boldface type serve as cross-references. Following the entries are four appendixes: a chronology of Poe's life, a chronology of his works, a list of Poe research collections, and a bibliography.

This is the latest addition to Facts On File's Literary A to Z series, which offers a wealth of information in volumes that are handsomely designed and easy to use. Recommended for public and academic libraries and for high-school libraries where Poe is part of the curriculum. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Comprehensive, detailed, and superbly organized
Edgar Allan Poe: A To Z is a comprehensive, detailed, superbly organized and presented reference to the life and work of the man who invented the modern detective story and horror genres in American literature. Poe was also a prolific literary critic and editor of several periodicals of the day in which he published his reviews, essays, and articles. Edgar Allan Poe: A To Z features more than 3,400 entries ranging from synopses of his tales, poetry and critical works; to descriptions of his characters; to background information on family, friends and associates; to discussion of his influence on Baudelair and other French poets; to film, musical, and theatrical adaptions of his works; to places that influenced and affected his life and work ranging from Baltimore to New York City. Edgar Allan Poe: A To Z is an essential, highly recommended reference for academic library collections and features a chronology of Poe's life and work; a select bibliography; and a listing of Poe research collections in the United Sates. The informative text is enhanced with photographs and illustrations.

Excelente Recopilación de Datos Biográficos
Es uno de los mejores libro que he visto hasta el momento en lo referente a recopilacion de hechos de la vida de POE. Analiza cada una de las posibles referencias que ayudan a comprender mejor la vida del Genio que fué Edgar Allan Poe.

Good overview - but do more work
Sova has done a great job compiling a wide list of topics into concise overviews. Everything from individual works by Poe to people in Poe's life are presented. With that said, however, be careful with this book! There are quite a few inaccuracies ranging from the slight (a typo gave the original title of "The City in the Sea" as "The Domed City" rather than "Doomed") to the patently incorrect (the timeline at the back of the book gives Poe's date of death as October 8, rather than the 7th). This book should give you a good place to start with your inquiries regarding Poe, but you might have to do some more research to follow-up.