Edgar Allan Poe's Writings in Burton's Gentleman's Magazine


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The volumes of Burton's Gentleman's Magazine followed the usual approach of two volumes each year, with periods running from January-June and July-December. Poe's connection with the magazine seems not to have started until the June 1839 issue.

These items are arranged chronologically, divided by volumes as defined by the periodical.

Scroll down, or select volume:

  Vol. IV (Jan.-June 1839);   Vol. V (July-Dec. 1839);   Vol. VI (Jan.-June 1840);   Vol. VII (July-Dec. 1840);  

 


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Vol. IV (January - June, 1839)

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1839 - February (vol IV, no. 2)

  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Skating and The Natural History of the Dog)” (rejected) (pp. 111-117) (attributed by H&C, but probably erroneously, as it would be too early. In any case, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)

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1839 - March (vol IV, no. 3)

  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Natural History of the Dog)” (rejected) (pp. 182-185) (attributed by H&C, but probably erroneously, as it would be too early. In any case, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)

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1839 - April (vol IV, no. 4)

  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Natural History of the Dog)” (rejected) (pp. 237-240) (attributed by H&C, but probably erroneously, as it would be as too early. In any case, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)

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1839 - May (vol IV, no. 5)

  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Natural History of the Dog)” (rejected) (pp. 299-302) (attributed by H&C, but probably erroneously, as it would be as too early. In any case, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)

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1839 - June (vol IV, no. 6)

(An announcement in the middle of the outside of the back cover states: “WILLIAM E. BURTON, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, [/] Has much pleasure in stating that he has made arrangements with EDGAR A. POE, ESQ. [[,]] late Editor of the Southern Literary Messenger, to devote his abilities and experience to a portion of the Editorial duties of the Gentleman's Magazine.” This notice is repeated on the August 1839 wrapper as well. Inside the front paper cover, Poe is noted as “Assistant Editor.”)

  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Natural History of the Dog)” (rejected) (pp. 349-352) (attributed by H&C, but probably erroneously, as it would be as too early. In any case, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
  • Review of New Books (none of these items are listed or metioned by H&C, although they do list the early installments of “A Chapter on Sports and Manly Pastimes”)
    • Review - of R. M. Bird - The Adventures of Robin Day (p. 358) (attributed to Poe by T. O. Mabbott as “possibly Poe's, but too doubtful, omit.”)
    • Review - of Marryatt - The Phantom Ship (pp. 358-359) (This notice was attributed to Poe by T. O. Mabbott and W. D. Hull.)
    • Review - of the Military Magazine (pp. 359) (This notice was attributed to Poe by W. D. Hull.)
  • [Prior to May 30, 1839, Poe wrote a harsh notice of Rufus Dawes, which Burton rejected. His letter to Poe states, in part, “I wish particularly to deal leniently with the faults of genius, and feeling statisfied that Dawes possesses a portion of the true fire, I regretted the word-catching tone of your critique.” This review likely formed the basis of Poe's later article “The Poetry of Rufus Dawes: A Retrospective Criticism” from Graham's Magazine for October 1842.]

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Vol. V (July - December 1839)

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1839 - July (vol. V, no. 1)

  • Poem - “To Ianthe in Heaven” (reprint)  (text?) (p. 49) (signed, “BY E. A. POE”)
  • Poem - “Spirits of the Dead” (revised reprint)  (text?) (p. 51) (unsigned)
  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Archery)” (rejected) (pp. 52-55) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
  • Review of New Books  (pp. 56-62) (all are attributed to Poe by Hull and H&C)
    • Review of J. F. Cooper - History of the Navy
    • Review of A. Dimitry - Lecture on the Study of History
    • Review of J. P. and W. P. Robertson - Francia's Reign of Terror (The name is misprinted in the review as Robinson)
    • Review of H. T. Tuckerman - Isabel; or Sicily
    • Review of G. P. R. James - Memoirs of Celebrated Women
    • Review of Anonymous (a Gentleman) - Advice to A Young Gentleman on entering Society
    • Review of Thomas Wyatt - A Synopsis of Natural History
    • Review of Henry Lord Brougham - Sketches of Public Characters, Discources, and Essays

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1839 - August (vol. V, no. 2)

  • Tale - “The Man That Was Used Up” (first printing) (pp. 66-70)
  • Poem - “Fairyland”  (reprint)  (p. 70)   (signed “P”)
  • Poem - “To ——”  (reprint)  (p. 75)
  • Poem - “To the River ——”  (reprint)  (p. 99)   (signed “P”)
  • Article - “An Opinion on Dreams”  (rejected) (p. 105)  (Attributed to Poe by J. H. Whitty and George E. Hatvary, but disputed by T. O. Mabbott, who instead attributes it to William Landor. Text actually taken from Chaos and the Creation: An Epic Poem, in Eight Cantos, with Elucidative Notes by Trinitarius, London: Hatchard and Son, 1834.)
  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes  (Archery)” (rejected) (pp. 106-111) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
  • Review of New Books (pp. 112-118)  (As Poe noted in a letter to P. P. Cooke, the first three reviews for August and September are by Burton. These have been omitted here.)
    • Review of Adams - The Jubliee of the Constitution
    • Review of G. P. R. James - The Gentleman of the Old School
    • Review of Grant - Sketches of London
    • Review of H. C. Von Leonhard - Popular Lectures on Geology
    • Review of John Taylor - The Pocket Lacon
    • Review of W. Wallace - The Triumphs of Science
    • Review of N. P. Willis - Tortesa, the Usurer
    • Review of J. F. Cooper - Precaution
    • Review of Anonymous - Six Weeks in Fauquier
    • Review of Samuel Colman (as Mark Pencil) - The White Sulphur Papers
    • Notice of John S. Lewis - A Defense of Female Education

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1839 - September (vol. V, no. 3)

  • Tale - “The Fall of the House of Usher”  (first printing)  (text A)  (pp. 145-152)
  • Misc.. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Gymnastics and Gymnasia)” (rejected) (pp. 161-163) (attributed by H&C. This article is connected with other half in the October issue, which was expressly accepted by Poe. In spite of Poe's claim, however, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
  • Review of New Books  (pp. 164-174)  (As Poe noted in a letter to P. P. Cooke, the first three reviews for August and September are by Burton. These have been omitted here.)
    • Review of J. M. Austin - A Voice to the South
    • Review of Henry Lord Brougham - Historical Sketches of Statesman
    • Review of Eliza Wilkinson - Letters, during the Invasion and Possession of Charleston
    • Review of Mary Howitt - Birds and Flowers, and Other Country Things
    • Review of Thomas Bingley - Tales of Shipwrecks and Other Disasters at Sea
    • Review of Edward Sayers - The American Fruit Garden Companion
    • Review of D. Bacon - The Bride of Fort Edward
    • Notice of William A. Alcott - Charles Hartland, the Village Missionary
    • Review of J. P. Robertson - Solomon Seesaw  
    • Review of H. de la Motte Fouque - Undine: A Miniature Romance
    • Review of H. R. Schoolcraft - Algeic Researches
    • Review of W. H. Sleeman - The Thugs or Phansigars of India
    • Review of J. Galt - Continuation of the Diary
    • Review of James Ackerman - Practical Lessons in Flower Painting
    • Comment on future notices

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1839 - October (vol. V, no. 4)

  • Tale - “William Wilson”   (reprint)  (text B)  (pp. 205-212)  (Signed “BY EDGAR A. POE.”)  (Noted as “From the Gift for 1840”)
  • Misc.. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Gymnastics and Gymnasia)”  (rejected)  (text A) (pp. 221-226) (This article is expressly accepted by Poe. The article from the September issue is presumed to be the first part of this item, and both are attributed to Poe. In spite of Poe's claim, however, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
  • Review of New Books  (pp. 227-230)  (As noted in a letter to J. E. Snodgrass, all of the reviews for October are by Poe.)
    • Review of Longfellow - Hyperion, a Romance
    • Review of Charles Augustus Murray - Travels in North America
    • Review of James McPherson - The Poems of Ossian Review of The Gift for 1840
    • Review of S. Augustus Mitchell - A System of Modern Geography
    • Review of Catharine H. Waterman - Flora's Lexicon
    • Review of Opinions of Lord Brougham
    • Review of Thomas Miller - Fair Rosamond; or, The Days of King Henry II.
    • Review of Cornelius Webbe - The Man About Town
    • Review of Hamilton King, or The Smuggler and the Dwarf

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1839 - November (vol. V, no. 5)

  • Article - “The Capitol at Washington”   (first printing)  (pp. 231-235)   (Attributed to Poe by T. O. Mabbott, but now rejected)
  • Tale - “Morella”  (tale)   (text D)  (pp. 264-266) (The table of contents on the front cover of the paper wrappers lists this item as “Morella — a Tale. By Edgar A. Poe.”)
  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Game of Cricket)” (rejected) (pp. 277-281) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.) (The table of contents on the front cover of the paper wrappers lists this item as “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes, by an Experienced Practioner. The Game of Cricket.”)
  • Review of New Books  (pp. 282-286)
    • Review of Shakspeare and His Friends   (attributed to Poe by H&C, but disputed by Mabbott, who thinks the articles relating to Shakespeare are all likely by Burton.) 
    • Review of The Cannons of Good Breeding
    • Review of William G. Simms - The Damsel of Darien
    • Review of W. H. Carleton - Father Butler and The Lough Deary Pilgrim
    • Review of Nan Darrell; or, The Gipsy Mother
    • Review of The Violet: A Christmas and New Years Present for 1840
    • Review of The Literary Souvenir: A Christmas and New Years Present for 1840

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1839 - December (vol. V, no. 6)

  • Tale - “The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion”  (tale, first printing)  (text A)  (pp. 321-323)
  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Game of Cricket)” (rejected) (pp. 324-326) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
  • Review of New Books  (pp. 327-334)
    • Review of Marcus E. Cross - The Museum of Religious Knowledge   (attributed to Poe by H&C, and T. O. Mabbott, but disputed by Hull, who thinks it is by Burton.)
    • Review of The Christian Keepsake and Missionary Annual for 1840   (attributed to Poe by H&C, and T. O. Mabbott, but disputed by Hull, who thinks it is by Burton.)
    • Review of W. J. Walter - The Poet: a Metrical Romance of the Seventeenth Century   (attributed to Poe by H&C, and T. O. Mabbott, but disputed by Hull, who thinks it is by Burton.)
    • Review of G. M. W. Reynolds - Albert de Rosann; or The Adventures of a French Gentleman   (attributed to Poe by H&C, and T. O. Mabbott, but disputed by Hull, who thinks it is by Burton.) 
    • Review of Count Mathieu Dumas - Memoirs of His Own Time  
    • Review of Asa Kinne - The Most Important Parts of Blackstone's Commentaires, Reduced to Questions and Answers
    • Review of Charles Dickens - The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
    • Review of Joseph R. Chandler - An Address, Delivered before the Goethean and Diagnothian Societies of Marshall College
    • Review of John Keese - The Poets of America, illustrated by one of her Painters   (attributed to Poe by H&C, and equivocally by T. O. Mabbott, but disputed by Hull, who thinks it is by Burton.) 
    • Review of Rufus Dawes - Nix's Mate; an Historical Romance of America  
    • Review of George P. Morris - National Melodies of America  
    • Review of The United States’ Military Magazine  
    • Review of Grant - Walks and Wanderings in the World of Literature  
    • Review of Mrs. Sarah J. Hale - The Good Housekeeper

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Vol. VI (January - June 1840)

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1840 - January (vol. VI, no. 1)

(Both the front and rear paper wrappers list the editors as William E. Burton & Edgar A. Poe. Poe is not listed as being among the contributors to the issue, presumably because there are no items bearing his name. Although the first installment does not appear until the March issue, the rear cover the paper wraps announce the series “A CHAPTER ON SCIENCE AND ART, in every number; chronicling the new discoveries in Europe and America, with illustrations and remarks.” The covers also promote “A CHAPTER ON FIELD SPORTS AND MANLY PASTIMES, By an experienced practitioner, with countless Engravings on wood. The extraordinary popularity of the chapters already given are the best criterion of the nature of this department of the Magazine.”)

  • Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (Tale, first printing) (text x) (pp. 44-47) (This is the first chapter of the six-part series. It carries the subtitle “Introductory.”)
  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Sailing)” (rejected) (pp. 49-52) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.) (Oddly, this installment appears in contradiction to the note on the indside rear cover of the paper wraps, which states: “Our usual Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes is postponed this month, on account of the indisposion of our Engraver on Wood.”)
  • Review of New Books (pp. 53-58) 
    • Review of Thomas Moore - Alcipheron
    • Review of Charles Mathews - A Continuation of the Memoirs of Charles Mathews, Comedian   (Attributed by Mabbott and H&C, but disputed by Hull)
    • Review of Countess Blessington - The Governess
    • Notice of E. A. Poe - Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque (This is a one-sentence notice.)

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1840 - February (vol. VI, no. 2)

  • Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 44-47) (This is the second chapter of the six-part series.)
  • Tale - “Peter Pendulum, the Business Man” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 87-89) (The table of contents on the front cover of the paper wrappers lists this item as “Peter Pendulum, the Business Man. A Humorous Tale. By Edgar A. Poe.”)
  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Sailing)” (rejected) (pp. 98-99) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
  • Review of New Books  (pp. 100-106)
    • Review of G. P. Morris - Where Hudson's Wave   (attributed by Mabbott, omitted by H&C)
    • Review of Haldeman - A Monograph of The Limniades
    • Review of H. G. Longfellow - Voices of the Night
    • Review of  Marryatt - Diary in America   (This review is presumably by Burton, based on a notice of the magazine in Alexander's Weekly Messenger.)
    • Review of Frederick Chamier - The Spitfire   (Attributed to Poe by Mabbott, but disputed by Hull. Not mentioned by H&C)
    • Review of Amos Dean - The Philosophy of Human Life
    • Notice of Emma C. Embury - Pictures of Early Life
    • Notice of - The U. S. Military Magazine
    • Review of S. Duncan - Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons (This is part one of a two-part review)
    • Review of Pickering - The Fright
    • Notice of M. Thier - The History of the French Revolution

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1840 - March (vol. VI, no. 3)

  • Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (Tale, first printing) (text x) (pp. 109-113) (This is the third chapter of the six-part series.)
  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Science and Art” (first printing) (text x) (p. 149-150) (This is the first installment of the four-part series.)
  • Review of New Books  (pp. 151-154) 
    • Review of S. Duncan - Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons (This is part two of a two-part review)
    • Review of Madame Tussaud - Memoirs and Reminiscences
    • Review of T. C. Haliburton - The Letter Bad of the Great Western
    • Review of Mrs. Bray - Trials of the Heart
    • Review of N. P. Willis - Romance of Travel
    • Review of H. D. Inglis - Rambles in the Footsteps of Don Quixote

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1840 - April (vol. VI, no. 4)

  • Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (Tale, first printing) (text x) (pp. 178-183) (This is the fourth chapter of the six-part series.)
  • Misc. - “A Chapter on Science and Art” (first printing) (text x) (p. 193-194) (This is the second installment of the four-part series.)
  • Misc - “Omniana” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 161-162) (This is the first installment of the five-part series.)
  • Poem - “Silence. A Sonnet” (reprint) (text x) (p. 166) (The table of contents on the front cover of the paper wrappers lists this item as “Silence. A Sonnet. By Edgar A. Poe.”)
  • Review of New Books  (According to a notice in Alexander's Weekly Messenger, all of the reviews in the April issue are by W. E. Burton. The notice is likely by Poe himself, or certainly someone closely associated with Burton's Magazine, and the attribution, therefore, is accepted. H&C list the four reviews as “doubtful” and “very doubtful.”)
  • Notice - “A word or two on the Copy-Right Question”  (text A) (p. 202)  (This item appears at the end of the “Review of New Books.”)

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1840 - May (vol. VI, no. 5)

  • Article - “A Notice of William Cullen Bryant” (article, first printing) (text x) (p. 203-205) (The table of contents on the front cover of the paper wrappers lists this item as “A Notice of William Cullen Bryant. By Edgar A. Poe.”)
  • Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (Tale, first printing) (text x) (pp. 206-210) (This is the fifth installment of the six-part series.)
  • Misc - “Omniana” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 235-236) (This is the second installment of the series.)
  • Article - “The Philosophy of Furniture” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 243-245)
  • Misc - “A Chapter on Science and Art” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 246-247) (This is the third installment of the four-part series.)
  • Review of New Books (pp. 248-250)
    • Review of Mrs. Grey - The Duke
    • Review of N. C. Brooks - The Utility of Classical Studies and Charles W. Thompson - The Uncertainty of Literary Fame
    • Review of The Florist's Guide
    • Review of James Pedder - Frank; or Dialogues between a Father and Son

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1840 - June (vol. VI, no. 6)

  • Article - “Some Account of Stonehenge” (article, first printing) (text x) (pp. 251-252)
  • Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (Tale, first printing) (text x) (pp. 255-259) (This is the sixth and final installment of the series.)
  • Misc - “Omniana” (first printing) (text x) (p. 289-290) (This is the third installment of the series.)
  • Review of New Books  (pp. 293-294)
    • Review of The Youth of Shakspeare   (Attributed by Hull. Omitted by H&C)
    • Review of Spencer Wallace Cone - The Proud Ladye
    • Review of Grattan - High-Ways and By-Ways

Poe left Burton's after the June issue. A notice on the rear paper wrappers for the June 1840 issue states: “Our readers are respectfully informed that in future Edgar A. Poe will not be connected with this Magazine.”


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Vol. VII (July - December 1840)

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1840 - July (vol. VII, no. 1)

  • Misc - “A Chapter on Science and Art” (first printing) (text x) (p. 49) (This is the fourth and final installment of the series.)
  • Misc - “Omniana” (first printing) (text A) (p. 51) (This is the fourth installment of the series.)

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1840 - August (vol. VII, no. 2)

  • Misc - “Omniana” (first printing) (text A) (p. 104) (This is the fifth and final installment of the series.)

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1840 - December (vol. VII, no. 6)

The December issue was technically the first issue of the new Graham's Magazine, combining the Gentleman's with the Casket. This final issue was distributed to subscribers of the respective magazines with the old titles. The contents were nearly identical for both magazines for this issue, with only a few differences for the sake of completing the old series.

  • Tale - “The Man of the Crowd” (first printing) (text x) (p. 49) (This tale simultaneously appeared in the final issue of The Casket, both forming the introductory issue of Graham's.)

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Notes:

Poe accepts the authorship of at least one of installments in the series “Field Sports and Manly Pastimes,” but since his connection with the magazine seems not to have started until the June 1839 issue, it seems unlikely that the installments of February - June 1839 could be Poe's. Except for the article on Gymnastics, the attribution of the series to Poe was disputed by T. O. Mabbott, who felt that they may have been compiled by Richard Penn Smith or Charles West Thomson.

 

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[S:0 - JAS] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Works - Editions - Edgar Allan Poe's Writings in Burton's Gentleman's Magazine