Product Description

All 27 of Doré’s detailed, masterly engravings from a rare 19th-century edition of The Raven, among the most popular American poems ever written. Dreamlike, otherworldly illustrations perfectly capture the bleak despair and mournful musings of Poe’s poem. Apposite quotations from the poem are printed on facing pages; complete text is also included.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #394356 in Books
• Published on: 1996-04-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780486290720
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

Has Everything You Could Ask For
I had to memorize this poem years ago. For years I believed that everyone did. Maybe it's a shame that they didn't.

This is classic Poe. It's not long. It is tight, straight to the point, and foreboding. And that is not the reason to buy the book.

The book really worth buying because of the classic illustration's by Dore. They are fantastic. They perfectly catch the tone of the poem. In a time before movies, animated cartoons, or TV, these illustrations showed the poem that was being read (probably out loud by an adult). They worked then. They still work.

Your children, your grandchildren, and your siblings will enjoy it as much as you will.

ridden with malaise
Not only is this book about intense emotions, but it takes you on a trip through madness. All the pieces are so well interwoven that you come out of it trembling with the central character.

Beautiful!
This slim book does just one thing: it presents "The Raven," one of the best-recognized poems of the American tradition, with Doré's dark and errie illustrations.

The poem itself is so distinctive that even its meter, set to other words is still recognizable. Doré's engravings are not nearly so well known, however, but should be. Few other ways to print images on a commercial scale existed, back before photographic reproduction. Doré's illustration brought many other works to life as well, including Dante's Divine Comedy, Don Quixote, and even the Bible. His dramatic, emotive style of illustration not only embodies Poe's complex mood, it also raises that poem to the stature of the other world treasures to which Doré lent his talent.

Printing quality in this book meets Dover's usual, impeccable standards, despite this book's affordability. Then, since only one engraving appears per 9x12" (22.5x30cm) page, the fine reproduction makes it possible to read much of the detail an original engraving would have offered. Graphic novel fans might also find something of historical interest here, as one of the great-grandparents of the visual tradition leading to today's illustrated fiction. This one is easy to enjoy in many ways, so dig in.

-- wiredweird