Edgar Allan Poe

[Gelata]

Hi.
I think Edgar Allan Poe was a great writer and innovator. This year, as you know, his second centenary is celebrated, so I've thought that we could discuss his life and work.
I'm sure most of you like his poems and tales. I love them, and I admire the man himself for his tragic fate and his love for literature, which he kept despite his bad luck and the lack of appreciation he suffered in his time.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I agree completely, Gelata, a wizard, a true star, as they say.

I remember well getting 'Tales of Mystery and Imagination' from my mother when I was ten-ish and that was the book that really sparked my love of horror as a genre.

A tragedy that he died so young in the gutter in Baltimore.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Ubasti]

Edgar Allan Poe is my favorite "classic" author. He seemed to be a source of inspiration for so many and reflections of his works can be seen in the works of so many of the horror authors of today.

I love so many of his works, but my favorites are probably The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum and The Tell-Tale Heart.

[Todash]

I'm an admirer as well, although I tend to agree with James Russell Lowell: "Three fifths of him genius and two fifths sheer fudge."

[Liselle]

I used to watch his films on a Monday night when I used to go babysitting, that was the highlight of the night for me. Kids in bed, cup of tea and sit back and watch fantastic. Loved Vincent Price in them.

[JohnDalglish]

I'm an admirer as well, although I tend to agree with James Russell Lowell: "Three fifths of him genius and two fifths sheer fudge."

Hi,

I haven't heard that one before, thankee, Todash.

As Oscar Wilde said when a friend said 'I wish I'd said that', Oscar replied 'Oh, you will, you will'. LOL

Long days and pleasant nights

[crazycrashink]

One of the best things about my parents divorced (I was 6) was that my weekends at my dads included scary movies and books! I found his collection of Poe stories and was hooked. My favorite is The Masque of the Red Death.

[bopropadop]

I agree with everyone and enjoy Poe as well! I'm re-reading Black House and enjoy the references to The Raven made by Sai's King and Straub throughout.

Each Halloween, we dim the lights and light a candle or two to sit down and enjoy a reading of The Raven and The Telltale Heart. The kids love the eerie atmosphere created by the candles. I started this tradition with my older daughters years ago and revived it last year for the younger kids. Good stuff. Thank you, Poe!

[Black Suit]

The greatest.

period.

[tillyn]

He certainly wrote some of the best horror story's and poems i've ever read.

[hipmamajen]

I loved his stories when I first got a hold of them, and now I'm reading them to my kids. The vocabulary is a little tough for them, but we've worked that into their studies.

Good stuff!

[mstay]

I think Poe was one of my first intro's to the horror genre too. My favorite story is The Tell-Tale Heart.:eek2:

[Gelata]

"By wine some vow Poe's wit inspired to be,
And say that they can prove his verses show it;
More likely, I should fancy, it was tea,
for clearly it is t turns Poe to poet."

"Epigram on E.A.Poe" (by author unknown -Tom Hood?), 1872.

[JRLauer]

I tried reading Poe a couple of times. I can't get into his stuff. Am I weird?

[LongWalker]

Poe paved the way for modern horror and to this day is the father of modern horror. H.P. Lovecraft is also a master. I have heard the first horror story was "Beowulf". As far as I know the author is unknown.

[mudpuppy]

I too love E.A.P.

The group The Handsome Family has a song on the album In The Air called Poor Poor Lenore. Its very Poe inspired and a beautiful/frightening tribute. Check it out!

[ram623]

When I first read E.A.P. I was very young. I thought the stories were incredibly spooky. As an adult I found out that Poe was a drug addict with an intense fondness for Cocaine. This makes "Telltale Heart" much more understandable. Remember just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that someone's not really after you.

RAM

[Matthew.Degnan]

I love Poe, its a shame his life was cut so short, but he brought us so many great tales, and one absolutley brilliant novel.

[ladyraven]

poe was my first...i will always love him...hence the name...nevermore..ha

[Gelata]

I too love E.A.P.

The group The Handsome Family has a song on the album In The Air called Poor Poor Lenore. Its very Poe inspired and a beautiful/frightening tribute. Check it out!

I didn't know that song, and I think it's beautiful, and very "Poe-tic". Thank you!