Edgar Allan Poe and Abraham Lincoln share the same birth year (1809). But just imagine, if Poe would’ve avoided that errant bat, Lincoln could have selected him to read a poem at his inaugural. What would he have chosen: “The Raven”, “Nevermore”, or perhaps a selection from “The Black Cat”?
Poe has continued to fascinate authors for more than 200 years with each generation ripping his themes off ever so kindly. Poe was born 200 years ago January 19.
The following list was compiled for Amazon and includes numerous contemporary books which suggest one of Poe’s themes or in some cases have fictionalized Poe’s character. There’s probably a reason that the top prize for the mystery genre is called the “Edgar”.
Authors as distinguished as Stephen King, Dean Koontz and mystery writer Michael Connelly openly admit to borrowing from the master.
Connelly recently edited a collection of Poe’s tales accompanied by essays from contemporary authors including King. Michigan’s own sister team, P.J. Parrish, are include in the collection and were paired with “The Black Cat”.
Connelly’s own mystery “The Poet” borrows graciously from Poe and Connelly has herded together 20 mystery writers for “In the Shadow of the Master”. “On the Raven’s Wing: New Tales in Honor of Edgar Allan Poe” brings 20 mystery writers together who have their own take on Poe’s style.
One final collection, “Poe: 19 New Tales of Suspense, Dark Fantasy, and Horror Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe” will keep you on the edge of your seat.
If you want to know more about where Poe got his ideas read “The Beautiful Cigar Girl Mary Rodgers by Daniel Stashtower. It shows Poe wasn’t above borrowing ideas from the newspaper headlines.
Even though several cities claim Poe only one has his body and Baltimore will have the most robust bicentennial of the life and death of Edgar Allan Poe. Find out about the celebration here .
However, there is one thing that Baltimore doesn’t have which you can find at the Dearborn Inn in Dearborn Michigan. The Inn has a classic replica of the cottage in which Poe lived while in the Bronx. Would that be creepy or what? Pack a couple six packs of Raven Beer along with a few Poe books and you would be set to go. Sounds romantic. Check out the cottage here .
Listen to an interview with Gary Hoppenstand of Michigan State University and editor of the Journal of Popular Culture here www.lansingonlinenews.com Honppenstand has followed Poe carefully especially his influence on popular culture 200 years after his death. Check out the Journal here.
One tradition which has continued for sixty years is in the early morning hours of the anniversary of Poe’s birth, someone cloaked in darkness visits Poe’s grave in Baltimore and leaves a bottle of cognac(with a few slugs gone) bottle and three roses on the grave of Poe. A number of the bottles are on display in the Poe House and Museum. In keeping with the Poe tradition of odd, not long ago, it was revealed that the visitor was a museum employee who wanted to pump up tourism. Cool-very cool. No matter, tonight sometime after midnight but usually before 3 a.m., a slightly tipsy visitor will continue the tradition.
Poe may be gone but not from the internet. There are some great links out there. Here are a few: Go here for details on the sesqui events being held in Virginia. And what’s a celebration without Poe memorabilia. Check it out here. You can show your love for Poe’s poetry here . Poe spent considerable time in Baltimore which you can read about here . And here are details on Poe’s final resting place. Visit Poe’s house in Baltimore on-line here. Poe even has a statue which you can view here. For some fun watch a flash video of the Raven here . Poe even has a Facebook site here . And finally, here’s a list of books about, by or channelling Poe.