In 1849, a litÂtle over 167 years ago, Edgar Allan Poe was found dead in a BalÂtiÂmore gutÂter under mysÂteÂriÂous cirÂcumÂstances very likeÂly relatÂed to vioÂlent elecÂtion fraud. It was an ignoÂminÂious end to a life marked by hardÂship, alcoÂholism, and loss. After strugÂgling for years as the first AmerÂiÂcan writer to try and make a livÂing from his art, and failÂing in sevÂerÂal pubÂlishÂing venÂtures and posiÂtions, Poe achieved few of his aims, bareÂly getÂting by finanÂcialÂly and only manÂagÂing to attract a little—often negative—notice for now-famous poems like “The Raven.” ConÂtemÂpoÂraries like Ralph WalÂdo EmerÂson disÂparÂaged the poem and a latÂer genÂerÂaÂtion of writÂers, includÂing William ButÂler Yeats, proÂnounced him “vulÂgar.”
But of course, as we know, a counÂterÂcurÂrent of Poe appreÂciÂaÂtion took hold among writÂers, artists, and filmÂmakÂers interÂestÂed in mysÂtery, horÂror, and the supernatural—to such a degree that in the preÂviÂous cenÂtuÂry, nearÂly every artist even passÂingÂly assoÂciÂatÂed with darkÂer themes has interÂpretÂed Poe as a rite of pasÂsage. We recentÂly feaÂtured a readÂing of “The Raven” by the often-sinÂisÂter ChristoÂpher Walken.
At the top of the post, you can hear anothÂer verÂsion of the Queen’s‑born actor readÂing Poe’s best-known work, a poem designed to proÂduce what the author called a “uniÂty of effect” with its incanÂtaÂtoÂry repÂeÂtiÂtions. This recordÂing comes from a colÂlecÂtion of celebriÂty Poe readÂings called Closed on Account of Rabies, which also feaÂtures such unique takes on the clasÂsic horÂror writer’s work as that above, “The Tell-Tale Heart” as read by Iggy Pop.
Just above, hear a lessÂer-known poem by Poe called “Ulalume” read by Jeff BuckÂley, with an accomÂpaÂnyÂing soundÂtrack of low, pulsÂing, vagueÂly WestÂern-inspired music that well suits Buckley’s forÂmal, rhythÂmic recitaÂtion. The use of music on this album has dividÂed many Poe fans, and admitÂtedÂly, some tracks work betÂter than othÂers. On Buckley’s “Ulalume,” the music heightÂens tenÂsion and proÂvides a perÂfect atmosÂphere for imagÂinÂing “the misty mid region of Weir,” its “ghoul-hauntÂed woodÂland,” and the “scoÂriÂac rivers” of lava pourÂing from the poet’s heart. On MarÂiÂanne Faithful’s readÂing of “Annabelle Lee,” below, a score of keenÂing synths can seem overÂwrought and unnecÂesÂsary.
The remainÂder of the 1997 album, which you can purÂchase here, treats us to readÂings from 80s goth-rock stars DiaÂmanÂda Galas and Gavin FriÂday, Bad LieuÂtenant direcÂtor Abel FerÂrara, Blondie singer DebÂbie HarÂry, and gravÂel-voiced New Orleans bluesÂman Dr. John, among othÂers.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
The Great Stan Lee Reads Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”
James Earl Jones Reads Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” and Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself”
John Astin, From The Addams FamÂiÂly, Recites “The Raven” as Edgar Allan Poe
The MysÂtery of Edgar Allan Poe’s Death: 19 TheÂoÂries on What Caused the Poet’s Demise
7 Tips from Edgar Allan Poe on How to Write Vivid StoÂries and Poems
Josh Jones is a writer and musiÂcian based in Durham, NC. FolÂlow him at @jdmagness
First, Poe was NOT found dead in a BalÂtiÂmore gutÂter. He was found alive, not wearÂing his own clothÂing, and disÂoriÂentÂed. He was takÂen to the local hosÂpiÂtal, in a buildÂing that is now part of the UniÂverÂsiÂty of MaryÂland School of MedÂiÂcine, were he died sevÂerÂal days latÂer of what was called “brain fever.” The colÂlecÂtion here is called “Closed on Account of Rabies” because a modÂern physiÂcian proÂvidÂed a case study of Poe’s illÂness (withÂout being told that the patient was Poe)noted that the sympÂtoms listÂed by Poe’s 19th cenÂtuÂry medÂical careÂgivers were charÂacÂterÂisÂtic of rabies, which would explain Poe’s off-and-on comatose behavÂior, ravÂings, and delirÂiÂum (no anti-rabies shots availÂable then). So Poe likeÂly did not die of severe alcoÂholism, but had come into conÂtact with a rabid aniÂmal and been infectÂed. He had been on a short poetÂry-readÂing tour from his curÂrent home in the Bronx, where he lived in a cotÂtage with his mothÂer-in-law after the death from tuberÂcuÂloÂsis of his wife, VirÂginia. He was NOT the first AmerÂiÂcan writer to make a livÂing from his work. That was likeÂly James FenÂiÂmore CoopÂer, whose popÂuÂlar advenÂture novÂels, like The Last of the MohiÂcans, were best-sellÂers from the 1820s on. The rabies probÂaÂbly became acute while Poe was travÂelÂing. The false legÂend about Poe’s death is simÂiÂlar to that about VinÂcent Van Gogh, who supÂposÂedÂly shot himÂself in the chest with a pisÂtol and died a day latÂer from suiÂcide. But two art hisÂtoÂriÂans recentÂly uncovÂered eviÂdence that Van Gogh had come into conÂtact with French teenagers who were playÂing with a gun, which went off, fatalÂly woundÂing the unforÂtuÂnate artist, who refused to tell the local police the true cause of his death to avoid getÂting the kids in trouÂble. (Too bad they didÂn’t have LevÂel I trauÂma care in 1890–he probÂaÂbly would have surÂvived.)
thank you for the excelÂlentÂly done corÂrecÂtion! yay hisÂtoÂry buffs
Thanks WowzÂers
Poe did have a scratch on his shoulÂder near the time of his death. He had been in his mothÂer’s old theÂatre- chain city, NorÂfolk, VirÂginia for ten days right before he died. He had met some one who interÂestÂed him there. He was realÂly not that interÂestÂed now in his old girlÂfriend ElmiÂra ShelÂton, and he said so in sevÂerÂal letÂters: “The thought of this marÂriage makes me sink!” He went to this womÂan’s homes inside and outÂside of NorÂfolk. Her relÂaÂtive was a colÂleague of Poe’s. ElmiÂra’s husÂband’s will had stipÂuÂlatÂed if she remarÂried the son would get everyÂthing, and Poe cerÂtainÂly could not supÂport her in the style to which she was accusÂtomed. It was not posÂsiÂble that he marÂry ElmiÂra. He liked younger women. There are a lot of errors in Poe’s stoÂry that have purÂposeÂly been allowed to stand. I researched this here for forty years, and my play is availÂable. It could easÂiÂly be conÂvertÂed to film, my expeÂriÂenced and respectÂed adviÂsors said. Poe had lived around NorÂfolk for 18 months as a child and solÂdier. His father died here.–Myreen Moore (NicholÂson)