"Always write first things uppermost in the heart."
-Edgar Allan Poe
Today is the 214th birthday of one of the most influential
writers in the history of American literature. Edgar Allan Poe's
tales of mystery and the imagination often reflect the dark side
of human nature, but there is, more often than not, a moral
resolution or consequence in his stories, a fact which was largely
ignored in the later Hollywood horror movie adaptations of his work.
Edgar Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts where his first known work,
"Tamerlane and Other Poems" was published in 1827. Although he did not
stay in Boston long, there is a square named there in his honor, as well
as a statue of the writer at the corners of Boylston and Charles
Streets, which portrays him as the enigmatic and dashing figure
he was, complete with raven in tow, in commemoration of
his most well-known poem.
A southern gentleman at heart, Edgar Poe spent some of his
happiest years living in Baltimore, Maryland in the home of his
aunt Maria Clemm, and her daughter, Virginia "Sissy" Clemm,
who became Edgar's child bride at the tender age of 13.
Although some historians speculate that Poe married Sissy,
who was also his first cousin, in order to protect and to provide for
her and her widowed mother, and, that their relationship was more
like brother and sister than husband and wife, it seems to me that
their union was much more deeper than a mere
"marriage of convenience".
Sissy was often the first person that Edgar allowed to read
his poems and stories. Although he gained notoriety as
a fierce literary critic while working as an editor in
Philadelphia, he was often equally hard on his own work,
whereas young Sissy could only see her beloved's genius.
It was clear that she loved him, and was in awe of his talent.
Even at her young age, she seemed to understand the dark moods
from which he suffered, his deep feelings of rejection and loneliness,
stemming from the childhood trauma of being abandoned,
along with his mother and siblings, by his father, David Poe.
His mother, Eliza Poe, died soon after, and little Edgar,
his older brother, William, and baby sister, Rosalie,
were split up. At the age of two, he was taken in by a
Virginia couple named John and Frances Allan, who
provided for him until he had grown into a young man.
After his foster mother died, Edgar had a falling out with
John Allan, who regarded him as ungrateful and
never seemed to have accepted him.
Sissy, on the other hand, knew the sting of rejection from
her father's family, who had never approved of his marriage
to her mother. Despite Edgar's occasional lashing out at his
wife and his aunt, which was often fueled by alcoholic binges,
Sissy seemed always ready to forgive this troubled man
whom she deeply loved and admired.
And, although rumors swirled of Poe's affairs with other women,
and perhaps because his wife was seriously ill, he pursued the
attention given him by amorous female admirers of his work,
his heart still belonged to his darling Sissy.
"It was many and many a year ago
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me."
Excerpt from the poem, "Annabel Lee"
Written in memory of Virginia Clemm Poe
by Edgar Allan Poe. This poem was published in
the New York Tribune just two days after his death.
Edgar Poe's death was as mysterious as his life. There has been much
speculation over the exact cause of the writer's death-among them
that he was victimized by a political gang, as well as the gruesome
account of Poe having contracted rabies- however, I tend to believe
that the real cause of his demise at the age of 40 was a broken heart.
After witnessing the cruel death of his beloved Sissy, who died at
the age of 25 from tuberculosis, Edgar Poe was inconsolable.
It seemed as if this particular disease had haunted him since
his childhood, as it had also taken the life of his mother,
the actress Eliza Poe, at the age of 24.
Although the records of the cause of his death were lost,
as he lay dying in a Baltimore hospital his last words were
said to be, "Lord, help my poor soul."
May he rest in eternal peace.
Image courtesy/Wikimedia Commons
In honor of the Raven's birthday, here is a recipe for a classic
American dessert, the ultimate Boston Cream Pie, compliments
of Bridget and Julia in America's Test Kitchen. Once served to
your family and friends this lovely cake will soon be "Nevermore!"
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