Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Nan A. Talese (Doubleday)
Pages
205
Description
Explores Poe's literary accomplishments and legacy against the background of his erratic, dramatic, and sometimes sordid life, including his marriage to his thirteen-year-old cousin and his much-written-about problems with gambling and alcohol.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2008
Physical description
205 p.; 8.5 inches
ISBN
9780385508001
User reviews
LibraryThing member neringros
Had a slow start on this one.Not sure if it's the writing or the fact that I couldn't stop thinking of the language not being up to par with subject's greatness, but something didn't quite jive here...Overall, book is well written (verbose at times), but it was almost too short for me... Sort of
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like too quick a documentary that makes you yearn for more information to digest. Show Less
LibraryThing member billiecat
Not just Poe's life, but everything about this book is cut short. It is a slim 224 pages, only 192 of which are text. The book itself is short, being only 7 by 5 inches. And of course, Ackroyd's writing style is to write short, terse sentences. Ackroyd gives a fair rendering of Poe's life, but only
The book itself ends abruptly - cut short - at Poe's death, followed by little more than a paragraph or two assessing his post-mortem reputation. The book does have a suitable gothic air to it, but the relentless retelling of Poe's poverty and struggles with alcoholism with no consideration of his work beyond the cursory leave one at the end having no understanding of what made Poe significant and compelling, and leave one feeling as despondent as Poe himself.
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glances at his work and his place in literature. The few connections between Poe's life and his writing Ackroyd does make are underwhelming - it is hardly an original thought to notice Poe's tales featured many women afflicted with wasting diseases, much as his mother and wife were.The book itself ends abruptly - cut short - at Poe's death, followed by little more than a paragraph or two assessing his post-mortem reputation. The book does have a suitable gothic air to it, but the relentless retelling of Poe's poverty and struggles with alcoholism with no consideration of his work beyond the cursory leave one at the end having no understanding of what made Poe significant and compelling, and leave one feeling as despondent as Poe himself.
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LibraryThing member loremipsem
This biography added little to the known details of Poe's life. For all that, it was interesting reading. Ackroyd's writing was clear and he had an affinity for the subject that allowed the reader to sympathise. this shed some light onto the themes in Poe's literature, but did not leave the reader
All in all though, this was a good read. Recommended for those who like classic literary figures and want to know the story behind them.
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feeling terribly positive about him as a person.All in all though, this was a good read. Recommended for those who like classic literary figures and want to know the story behind them.
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LibraryThing member nmele
Perhaps because I already knew a good deal about Poe's life, I found Ackroyd's sympathetic portrait a little too adroit and somewhat unsatisfying.
LibraryThing member lindap69
skimmed the beginning found the style too encyclopedic
LibraryThing member JBD1
Basic, sure, and a bit melodramatic, but a fairly good short biography of Poe.
Call number
BIO Poe