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The Works of Edgar Allan Poe
Volume 1 of the Raven Edition
IN FIVE VOLUMES
VOLUME I Contents
Edgar Allan Poe； An Appreciation
Life of Poe； by James Russell Lowell
Death of Poe； by N。 P。 Willis
The Unparalled Adventures of One Hans Pfall
The Gold Bug
Four Beasts in One
The Murders in the Rue Morgue
The Mystery of Marie Rog阾
The Balloon Hoax
MS。 Found in a Bottle
The Oval Portrait
EDGAR ALLAN POE
AN APPRECIATION
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 〃nevernever more！〃
THIS stanza from 〃The Raven〃 was recommended by James Russell Lowell
as an inscription upon the Baltimore monument which marks the resting
place of Edgar Allan Poe； the most interesting and original figure in
American letters。 And； to signify that peculiar musical quality of
Poe's genius which inthralls every reader； Mr。 Lowell suggested this
additional verse； from the 〃Haunted Palace〃：
And all with pearl and ruby glowing
Was the fair palace door；
Through which came flowing； flowing； flowing；
And sparkling ever more；
A troop of Echoes； whose sweet duty
Was but to sing；
In voices of surpassing beauty；
The wit and wisdom of their king。
Born in poverty at Boston； January 19 1809； dying under painful
circumstances at Baltimore； October 7； 1849； his whole literary
career of scarcely fifteen years a pitiful struggle for mere
subsistence； his memory malignantly misrepresented by his earliest
biographer； Griswold； how completely has truth at last routed
falsehood and how magnificently has Poe come into his own； For 〃The
Raven；〃 first published in 1845； and； within a few months； read；
recited and parodied wherever the English language was spoken； the
half…starved poet received 10！ Less than a year later his brother
poet； N。 P。 Willis； issued this touching appeal to the admirers of
genius on behalf of the neglected author； his dying wife and her
devoted mother； then living under very straitened circumstances in a
little cottage at Fordham； N。 Y。：
〃Here is one of the finest scholars； one of the most original men of
genius； and one of the most industrious of the literary profession of
our country； whose temporary suspension of labor； from bodily
illness； drops him immediately to a level with the common objects of
public charity。 There is no intermediate stopping…place； no
respectful shelter； where； with the delicacy due to genius and
culture； be might secure aid； till； with returning health； he would
resume his labors； and his unmortified sense of independence。〃
And this was the tribute paid by the American public to the master
who had given to it such tales of conjuring charm； of witchery and
mystery as 〃The Fall of the House of Usher〃 and 〃Ligea； such
fascinating hoaxes as 〃The Unparalleled Adventure of Hans Pfaall；〃
〃MSS。 Found in a Bottle；〃 〃A Descent Into a Maelstrom〃 and 〃The
Balloon Hoax〃； such tales of conscience as 〃William Wilson；〃 〃The
Black Cat〃 and 〃The Tell…tale Heart；〃 wherein the retributions of
remorse are portrayed with an awful fidelity； such tales of natural
beauty as 〃The Island of the Fay〃 and 〃The Domain of Arnheim〃； such
marvellous studies in ratiocination as the 〃Gold…bug；〃 〃The Murders
in the Rue Morgue；〃 〃The Purloined Letter〃 and 〃The Mystery of Marie
Roget；〃 the latter； a recital of fact； demonstrating the author's
wonderful capability of correctly analyzing the mysteries of the
human mind； such tales of illusion and banter as 〃The Premature
Burial〃 and 〃The System of Dr。 Tarr and Professor Fether〃； such bits
of extravaganza as 〃The Devil in the Belfry〃 and 〃The Angel of the
Odd〃； such tales of adventure as 〃The Narrative of Arthur Gordon
Pym〃； such papers of keen criticism and review as won for Poe the
enthusiastic admiration of Charles Dickens； although they made him
many enemies among the over…puffed minor American writers so
mercilessly exposed by him； such poems of beauty and melody as 〃The
Bells；〃 〃The Haunted Palace；〃 〃Tamerlane；〃 〃The City in the Sea〃 and
〃The Raven。〃 What delight for the jaded senses of the reader is this
enchanted domain of wonder…pieces！ What an atmosphere of beauty；
music； color！ What resources of imagination； construction； analysis
and absolute art！ One might almost sympathize with Sarah Helen
Whitman； who； confessing to a half faith in the old superstition of
the significance of anagrams； found； in the transposed letters of
Edgar Poe's name； the words 〃a God…peer。〃 His mind； she says； was
indeed a 〃Haunted Palace；〃 echoing to the footfalls of angels and
demons。
〃No man；〃 Poe himself wrote； 〃has recorded； no man has dared to
record； the wonders of his inner life。〃
In these twentieth century days …of lavish recognition…artistic；
popular and material…of genius； what rewards might not a Poe claim！
Edgar's father； a son of General David Poe； the American
revolutionary patriot and friend of Lafayette； had married Mrs。
Hopkins； an English actress； and； the match meeting with parental
disapproval； had himself taken to the stage as a profession。
Notwithstanding Mrs。 Poe's beauty and talent the young couple had a
sorry struggle for existence。 When Edgar； at the age of two years；
was orphaned； the family was in the utmost destitution。 Apparently
the future poet was to be cast upon the world homeless and
friendless。 But fate decreed that a few glimmers of sunshine were to
illumine his life； for the little fellow was adopted by John Allan； a
wealthy merchant of Richmond； Va。 A brother and sister； the remaining
children； were cared for by others。
In his new home Edgar found all the luxury and advantages money could
provide。 He was petted； spoiled and shown off to strangers。 In Mrs。
Allan he found all the affection a childless wife could bestow。 Mr。
Allan took much pride in the captivating； precocious lad。 At the age
of five the boy recited； with fine effect； passages of English poetry
to the visitors at the Allan house。
From his eighth to his thirteenth year he attended the Manor House
school； at Stoke…Newington； a suburb of London。 It was the Rev。 Dr。
Bransby； head of the school； whom Poe so quaintly portrayed in
〃William Wilson。〃 Returning to Richmond in 1820 Edgar was sent to the
school of Professor Joseph H。 Clarke。 He proved an apt pupil。 Years
afterward Professor Clarke thus wrote：
〃While the other boys wrote mere mechanical verses； Poe wrote genuine
poetry； the boy was a born poet。 As a scholar he was ambitious to
excel。 He was remarkable for self…respect； without haughtiness。 He
had a sensitive and tender heart and would do anything for a friend。
His nature was entirely free from selfishness。〃
At the age of seventeen Poe entered the University of Virginia at
Charlottesville。 He left that institution after one session。 Official
records prove that he was not expelled。 On the contrary； he gained a
creditable record as a student； although it is admitted that he
contracted debts and had 〃an ungovernable passion for card…playing。〃
These debts may have led to his quarrel with Mr。 Allan which
eventually compelled him to make his own way in the world。
Early in 1827 Poe made his first literary venture。 He induced Calvin
Thomas； a poor and youthful printer； to publish a small volume of his
verses under the title 〃Tamerlane and Other Poems。〃 In 1829 we find
Poe in Baltimore with another manuscript volume of verses； which was
soon published。 Its title was 〃Al Aaraaf； Tamerlane and Other Poems。〃
Neither of these ventures seems to have attracted much attention。
Soon after Mrs。 Allan's death； which occurred in 1829； Poe； through
the aid of Mr。 Allan； secured admission to the United States Military
Academy at West Point。 Any glamour which may have attached to cadet
life in Poe's eyes was speedily lost； for discipline at West Point
was never so severe nor were the accommodations ever so poor。 Poe's
bent was more and more toward literature。 Life at the academy daily
became increasingly distasteful。 Soon he began to purposely neglect
his studies and to disregard his duties； his aim being to secure his
dismissal from the United States service。 In this he succeeded。 On
March 7； 1831； Poe found himself free。 Mr。 Allan's second marriage
had thrown the lad on his own resources。 His literary career was to
begin。
Poe's first genuine victory was won in 1833； when he was the
successful competitor for a prize of 100 offered by a Baltimore
periodical for the best prose story。 〃A MSS。 Found in a Bottle〃 was
the winning tale。 Poe had submitted six stories in a volume。 〃Our
only difficulty；〃 says Mr。 Latrobe； one of the judges； 〃was in
selecting from the rich contents of the volume。〃
During the fifteen years of his literary life Poe was connected with
various newspapers and magazines in Richmond； Philadelphia and New
York。 He was faithful； punctual； industrious； thorough。 N。 P。 Willis；
who for some time employed Poe as critic and sub…editor on the
〃Evenin
