1919 The Complete Poetical Works of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe Oxford Ed

The Complete Poetical Works of Edgar Allan Poe
With Three Essays on Poetry. Edited from the Original Editions with Memoir, Textual Notes, & Bibliography
by Edgar Allan Poe
Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1919, London

CONDITION:
Fair copy, unmarked clean pages interior, covers have edge wear and tear, rubbing, spine edge has some tearing.

ATTRIBUTES:
Illustrated edition. Hardcover. No dust jacket. Bound in cloth over boards. All edges gilt.

DESCRIPTION:
This book presents the complete poetical works of Edgar Allan Poe, an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is widely recognized as a central figure of Romanticism and Gothic fiction in the United States. Poe's poetry often delves into themes of love, loss, grief, death, madness, and the supernatural, frequently employing dark and evocative imagery. He is known for his meticulous structure, rhythmic patterns, and use of literary devices such as repetition, alliteration, and internal rhyme to create a haunting, musical quality in his verse.

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) led a financially challenging life, being one of the first well-known American writers to attempt to earn a living solely through writing. Despite these struggles, his work had a profound impact on American and international literature. He is credited with pioneering the modern detective story and significantly contributing to the development of Gothic horror and science fiction. His influence extended to European literary movements, with French Symbolists like Charles Baudelaire considering him a literary precursor.

Collectors would find this volume interesting due to its comprehensive nature, offering a complete collection of Poe's poetry, along with three essays on poetry. The inclusion of a memoir and bibliography by R. Brimley Johnson adds further value, providing contextual information about the author and his works. Poe's enduring literary significance, his mastery of narrative control, and his exploration of complex psychological themes make his collected works a cornerstone for any serious literature collection.

FLASHBACK TO 1919 WHEN THIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED:
When this book was published in 1919, the world was reeling from the Great War's end, with the Treaty of Versailles signed, the League of Nations established, and a global influenza pandemic still raging. Suffragettes in Britain were celebrating limited voting rights, while Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity was confirmed, forever altering humanity's understanding of the universe. Amidst this tumultuous period, the Bauhaus art school was founded in Germany, and the famed "Red Summer" of racial violence gripped the United States.

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