Product Description

From a Pulitzer-Prize winning biographer, the most revealing, fascinating, and important biography of one of our greatest literary figures.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #94757 in Books
• Published on: 1992-11-04
• Released on: 1992-11-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 592 pages

From Publishers Weekly
This mesmerizing chronicle of Poe's short and disorderly life incorporates fresh discoveries about the poet/storyteller's travels, relationships and literary works. Illustrations.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
YA-- A comprehensive but readable biography. Poe is pictured as a man who was obsessed by the early death of his actress mother and as one who filled his writings with themes of lost love, violent murder, and the supernatural. Particularly intriguing are his relations with his contemporaries: his constant denigration of the talents of Longfellow, other literary feuds and frauds, his penchant for reporting on bogus ``news events,'' his quarrels with his editors and backers, and his bouts with alcoholism and despair. A compelling portrait. --Richard Lisker, Fairfax Public Library, VA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
The opening of Silverman's comprehensive biography of Poe sets the tone: 24-year-old Eliza Poe, actress and mother of three, is dying. The local paper solicits funds for this destitute and deserted woman. Her son Edgar, raised but never adopted by the Allan family, thus spends his entire life mourning his losses, beseeching others for money, enduring imagined grievances, and needing to be nurtured. Quoting extensively from letters, public records, and diaries, Silverman sheds new light on how Poe's early life influenced his work. He details Poe's turbulent career as poet, short story writer, and editor traveling between Boston and Richmond and traces his literary development through bouts of alcoholism and hallucinations and disputes with literary rivals. An excellent addition to the literature that furthers understanding of America's gothic tale-teller.
- Cathy Sabol, LRC, Northern Virginia Community Coll., Manassas
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

The best biography of Poe
If you have a sincere interest in Edgar Allan Poe, you must read Silverman's biography of Poe! It is well-researched, comprehensive, and written in an accessible, understandable way (just what you'd expect from a Pulitzer Prize winner). Silverman lays down all the facts, but also makes the reader aware of the complexities of Poe's story, admitting there are certain fuzzy areas. The book interweaves Poe's life with his work, the background of the 19th century American publishing industry, and critical interpretations both contemporary and modern. Silverman has admitted he was not a Poe fan before setting out to write this book so it is unbiased. Incredibly thorough and an enjoyable read, this is the last Poe biography you'll ever need!

A very well done bio of one of the greatest

This is an excellent, highly detailed and informative biography of one of the greatest American authors and poets.

Poe's life was rough from the start. His parents (David and Eliza) left him early, his father through abandonment, his mother through an early death. Young Poe was sent to live with surrogate parents, the "father" being John Allan, a wealthy merchant who wanted Poe to be something more (or at least something different) than Poe himself wanted to be.

Silverman pulls no punches, painting a most realistic and unbiased account of Poe's life. For example, he tells of Poe's troubles in his early college years, with Poe blaming his troubles on the parsimonious John Allan. In reality, however, much of Poe's troubles were caused by Poe himself, via his gambling, his habit of breaking promises, of borrowing and not repaying, and so on.

Silverman covers Poe's Army serivce, telling of young Edgar as Sergeant Major of Artillery, of Poe's few months at West Point (he did not graduate), of his work as a magazine writer, editor, and critic, and of Poe's most memorable triumphs--including the publication of the poem THE RAVEN, a masterpiece for which Poe is perhaps best known. Silverman also tells of Poe's almost constant grinding poverty, his relationships with women and family members, his struggles to start his own magazine, his depression, his alcoholism, and much more.

My overall sense from reading this bio is that Poe was certainly a tragic figure, recognized by many during his time for being a literary genius, but not often rewarded as such. Then again, Poe's boorish, drunken behavior, his near constant begging for money, his failure to repay his debts (not to mention his almost complete lack of a business sense) certainly did not help him gain positive recognition. It seems, in fact, that Poe was often his own worst enemy.

Poor Poe!...
Poor Poe suffered a great deal of personal tragedy. Silverman's account is probably the best current critical bio around.