More than two centuries ago, Edgar Allan Poe was born on Jan. 19, 1809. While our unfortunate Mr. Poe had a difficult life filled with depression and addiction, he gave the world some of the most invigorating works of American literature. Many readers and writers give Poe credit for getting them interested in poetry through "The Raven." Through this poem and many of his other works, Poe showed his readers a darker side of literature through his captivating Gothic style. He introduced us to the horrors that live, not just in the dark, but in the human mind. As a writer, I know I owe him for sparking my interest in short stories. He showed me, “Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality,” which opened my eyes to the influence and beauty of literature.
Like many others, I will be celebrating one of my favorite authors this week by rereading some of his stories and poems. While we are all tempted to read the work we are familiar with, I would challenge you to throw something new into the mix. Pull out your "Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe," or find the stories and poems online. Go to the table of contents and choose one you've never heard of or have always known but skipped over. This could lead you to the discovery of your new favorite work, or give you a better appreciation for the author and his writing.
If you're looking for other outlets to honor him, you can explore other realms of Poe themed work. You could celebrate by watching "The Raven," staring John Cusack as Poe. While the movie isn't exactly historically accurate, it brings several of Poe's stories to life and maintains his themes of love and loss. As a fiction thriller loosely based on aspects of Poe's history, the movie is captivating from beginning to end, and avid Poe fans can point out representations of Poe's work and witness his gruesome tales first hand.
Another excellent piece of Poe-themed historical fiction is the novel "The Poe Shadow" by Matthew Pearl. This story deals with the mystery of Poe's death as the narrator tracks the writer's final days. For anyone interested in Poe's life and the mystery of his death, I would recommend this book. Like the movie, this novel is only loosely historical based because we only have potential theories concerning the circumstances of his death. This leaves plenty of wiggle room for interpretation for historical fiction writers and conspiracy theorists.
If you really want to branch out and add a playlist to set the mood for your Poe day, check out the Noir rock band Edgar Allan Poets. Like many Poe fans, they are inspired by Poe's writing because they "believe that everything is only real when it's dark." You can also listen to their song "Those Who Care" which stars Poe.
If you are a seriously dedicated Poe fan and want to let the world know, consider getting a Poe-inspired tattoo! His quotes are all brilliant, and you'll never get tired of having it permanently inked onto your skin. Or you could do something more creative and get his portrait or a raven.
Happy birthday, Edgar Allan Poe!
