The Afterlife of Edgar Allan Poe (Literary Criticism in Perspective, 60)

Anyone faced with an in-depth study of E.A. Poe needs this book. Not only does the work show Poe's impact on the American scene, it unravels large portions of the lies, and myths that have sprung up, like weeds in a graveyard, since Poe's death. Much of what has become "the accepted image" of this author, critic, and editor is simply a mass of received falsehoods. Poe emerges as a real, 19th century man, who deals with the questions of his age, (slavery, class, race and more). His biting comments on writing, mass publication, pseudo-intellectualism, and cultural ignorance are refreshingly opposed to the prevailing sentiments towards America's oncoming love with "realism," and it's adulation of the colloquial. Poe comes off in this collection as too smart for the room, because he was.

This overview of Poe criticism and the various guises in which he's appeared over the years is witty, adept, perceptive, and is full of critical views that are presented in a clear and precise manner. It's a joy to read, delightful, and you come away recognizing how easily we re-cast writers to fit our present images of them.

Starts from the very beginning, from the death of Poe, till today. Poe's influence upon the world is clearly mapped out by Peeples. I read this book because of its Psychoanalysis chapter, but the New Criticism, Deconstructism and the exploration of views on Poe then, compared to now, are equally as exciting.