The Selected Writings of Edgar Allan Poe

The Selected Writings of Edgar Allan Poe; an anthology of projects and works that this monumental writer accomplished in his life time. This first edition anthology, is a helpful guide to people studying Poe’s writing. The collection was originally published in August 2004 by Norton Critical Editions and Purdue University; edited by G.R Thompson, the book has proven the test of time to be useful in the classroom. The book features fifty-seven documents that Poe worked on during his profound career, that helped shape American Literature in the Nineteenth Century. Some of the works the editor included are: “Tamerlane”, “The Raven”, “The Cask of Amontiado”, “Hop-Frog”, etc. The editor hand-picked some of Poe’s famous works, and some lesser known works that are also profound. Another interesting thing that was included in this edition are various critiques from Poe that he wrote during his time as an editor. One of the critiques that was included critiques is Poe’s review of Nathanial Hawthorne’s work. The editor also includes a biography about Poe’s life at the beginning of the book to show case his state of mind and the time period when he wrote some of his famous pieces. 

One great tool that is included in this anthology are the foot notes. These help readers understand the features included literature by citing old language or other works Poe mentions in his writing. This anthology is an essential piece for anyone who wants to learn more about Poe and his works. It includes projects that Poe works that most people have heard of such as “The Raven”, but it also includes lesser known pieces such as “Mezengerstein”. It can also be a useful tool to use as an instructor in a classroom. On the publisher’s website includes a link for educators so they can access study guides for quizzes or tests. 

The book’s inexpensiveness, and availability on several websites makes it a great

asset to students and educators. With the extra information added to the edition, it makes understanding something from a different time period easier for students. Having that extra information also helps educators, because they have reliable information with the texts. Overall this book’s a useful tool to have in a classroom, or to   gain a deeper understanding of Poe’s work.

Poe, Edgar Allan. The Select Writings of Edgar Allan Poe. W.W. Norton & Co., 2004.

Poe Studies

      Poe Studies is a yearly journal that is published through the Washington State University Press and contains articles about the works of American writer and poet, Edgar Allan Poe, and it is accessible through the TN Tech Library.  When it was first started in 1975, it was independently published through the Poe Studies Association, and the editor was Alexander Hammond.  In 1992, the Washington State University Press was not the only place that published it.  It was also done so with the help of their HumanitiesResearchCenter and Division of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Department of English.  For the 1975 and 1992 issues, the editor and editing staff had remained the same.  The editing staff included people like Richard P. Benton and many others.

In 2008, their most recent publication had made quite a few changes such as changing the location of publication, the editors, and the number of editing staff.  The place of publication was now Wiley-Blackwell with help coming from the WashingtonStateUniversity’s Department of English and College of Liberal Arts and also from the College of Charleston’s Department of English and School of Humanities and Social Sciences.  The editors are now Jana L. Argersinger and Scott Peeples for the newer editions of this journal.

At the present time, Poe Studies can be found online at the Wiley Online Library as well as a few other websites.  In fact, there is a website known as The Poe Studies Association, dedicated to the life and work of Poe much like this journal where fans and writers can talk about his great works of literature.  It still comes out once a year just like before, but now, readers can find it easier.

The mission for this journal can be found in this statement.  “History, Theory, Interpretation provides a forum for dialogue about Edgar Allan Poe’s life and writings and about the cultural and material contexts that shaped the production and reception of his work.  The editors wish to define “Poe Studies” broadly—to include articles that engage the period in which Poe wrote, writers with whom he was affiliated or whom he inspired, theoretical and philosophical issues raised by his work, and artistic movements associated with him such as Gothicism, detective fiction, symbolism, and metafiction.  The journal invites submissions or original articles and notes, welcomes work grounded in a wide range of theoretical and critical perspectives, and encourages inquires proposing submissions and projects” (Poe Studies, 2008).  The target audience of this journal is students because if they intend to study about Poe and his many works as a writer and poet, this is where they would find some excellent information for their projects.  However, it is also useful for professors who want to teach Poe in their classroom.

Some of the articles included in this journal are about Poe’s stories and either comparing them to other writers or writers’ opinions about his works.  The articles can vary in length between only 1 page to 27 pages.  Some examples of the titles from the 1975 volume include “Poe’s “The Business Man”: Its Contexts and Satire of Franklin’s Autobiography” by J. A. Leo Lemany, “Guiomar’s Poetics of Death and “The Raven”” by David Baguley, ““ MS. Found in a Bottle” and Sir David Brewster’s Letters: A Source” by Burton R. Pollin, who is one of the editors of the journal, and “On First Translations of “The Raven” into German” by Erika Hulpke (Poe Studies, 1975).

This journal can be of much help to any student who is interested in studying about Poe and his works.  Poe Studies is excellently written and handled with much care and attention.  There will continue to be writers and readers who will enjoy reading and talking about the great works of Edgar Allan Poe, even after so many years.

Works Cited

Reilly, J. E.  Poe Studies.  WashingtonStateUniversity.  1974.  Journal.  Volume 1. October 2013.

Reilly, J. E.  Poe Studies.  WashingtonStateUniversity.  2008.  Journal.  Volume 41.  October 2013.