Text: Jeannette L. Gilder, “Biography and Letters,” The Critic (New York, NY), vol. XLII, June 1903, pp. 499-502

[page 499:]

EDGAR ALLAN POE is the most interesting and picturesque figure in American letters; Hawthorne comes next; Whitman follows. These three great writers struck out on original lines and made their own audiences. Of the three, Poe is decidedly the most picturesque because of his weaknesses and his misfortunes. He has had numerous biographers: some who have seen nothing in him that was not to praise, others who have blamed him beyond his deserts, and still others who have looked upon his life and work from the cold standpoint of the calm and critical mind. To write of Poe properly, it seems to me, one should have sympathy with the man, not necessarily foolish sentiment, but thorough appreciation of his work and keen sympathy with his misfortunes. [column 2:]

The most recent contribution to Poe literature is two volumes of “Life and Letters”* by Professor James A. Harrison of the University of Virginia, Poe's Alma Mater. As far as temperament goes, no one could be less like Poe than Professor Harrison. At the same time his cast of mind leads him thoroughly to appreciate and sympathize with this famous and defamed writer. Professor Harrison is the editor of the “Virginia” edition of Poe's works, recently published. Through it is not long since we have had a most interesting and valuable study of Poe by Professor Richardson of Dartmouth College, Professor Harrison's “Life and Letters” fills an important niche [page 500:] He gives a new portrait of Poe, painted after original and painstaking research and the accumulation of important material from heretofore inaccessible sources. Professor Harrison justifies his biography by recently discovered letters and facts which substantiate many things and disprove many others. Through inquiry and correspondence with Poe's still surviving contemporaries, new light has been thrown on the poet's early and middle life. Many important articles that have appeared in the periodical press during the last ten years have been drawn upon in the making of this volume.

The letters, which form a volume by themselves, are now for the first time collected. They are not all ‘’unpublished,” but many of them are virtually unknown, for they have been printed in out-of-the-way places and were only unearthed by the most diligent research [column 2:] search. This volume of letters from Poe and to Poe taken by itself would almost stand as a biography.

In his introduction Professor Harrison says:

Poe's autobiographic “Memorandum,” found among Dr. R. W. Griswold's papers, is printed from the original manuscript through the courtesy of Mrs. William M. Griswold. Its inaccuracies are brought out by Professor Harrison in an editorial note. Professor Harrison opens his biography by quoting a letter written by Poe when he was twenty-five years old to his life-long friend, Kennedy, then a young author, afterwards Secretary of the Navy under President Fillmore. As Professor Harrison considers this letter an epitome of Poe's whole career, it is worth quoting:

There have been many statements as regards the time and place of Poe's birth, but Professor Harrison states with emphasis that he was born in Boston, January 19, 1809. His parents, who were strolling actors, though his father was of excellent family, were playing in Boston when little Edgar was born. As Professor Harrison facetiously puts it:

“At length a stop — in Boston — came to the wanderings; January 19, 1809, Mrs. Poe did not appear, but Edgar did!” [column 2:]

Although the Poes spent their time in wandering up and down the country, from New England to New Orleans, they belonged to the better class of actors and were highly respected not only by their friends but by the public. They died leaving their three little children unprovided for. Edgar was not more than two years old. Professor Harrison finds this notice in going over the files of a Richmond newspaper:

When Mr. Allan adopted the little Edgar Poe he was not then a man of [page 502:] wealth; the fortune of which he died possessed, came to him later; but he was in easy circumstances always, and the child, though not brought up in luxury, was brought up in comfort.

Mr. Allan sent Poe to school and finally to the University of Virginia. Mr. Tucker, who was his intimate friend at the university, describes the poet at this period of his life as “rather short of stature, thick, compactly set, but active and expert in all the athletic and gymnastic arts.”

After leaving the university and before he went to West Point, Poe had already begun his career asa writer of prose and verse. One of his poems, printed in the Yankee and Boston Literary Gazette, is called. “The Magician,” and, curiously enough appears in no collected edition of Poe's works. It is given in full by Professor Harrison. [column 2:]

After Poe's quarrel with his adopted father, Mr. Allan, he was thrown upon his own resources, and, like many men, when they have nothing a year, he married. Virginia Clemm, who was his cousin, was not more than twelve years old when Poe married her. He was twenty-six. Poe removed to Richmond, because the Southern Literary Messenger was published there, to which he was a contributor and finally its literary editor. He was engaged at a salary of $520.00 a year, which was increased to $800.00, and finally to $1000.00, because of extra work that he did. Poe was beginning to complain of ill health, the cause of which one finds in a letter from Mr. White, the proprietor of the Literary Messenger, who wrote: “No man is safe that drinks before breakfast; no man can do so and attend to business properly.” Professor Harrison thinks that Poe had contracted this unfortunate habit of morning potations either from the delicacy of his constitution or from the hereditary “blue devils” from which he suffered. In a letter to his friend Kennedy, Poe wrote at this time:

Kennedy rose to the occasion, and by his letters kept his friend in good form for a time.

Although Professor Harrison is bound [page 503:] to admit that Poe drank and was addicted to drugs and stimulants, it was only at irregular intervals and under strong temptation.

Professor Harrison's biography of Poe is made on interesting lines. It is not merely the study of his character or a continuous story told in his own language. He draws from all sources and weaves in his quotations as part of [column 2:] his story. The consequence is we have a most interesting and valuable book made particularly entertaining because of its variety. As I have already shown by quotation, Professor Harrison does not pretend to say that Poe was guiltless of all the charges brought against him, but he believes that he had the extenuating excuse of temperament and heredity.

[[Footnotes]]

[The following footnote appears at the bottom of page 499, column 2:]

* “Life and Letters of Edgar Allan Poe,” By James A. Harrison. 2 vols. $2.50. Illustrated. Crowell. THE CRITIC is indebted to Messrs. Crowell & Co. For the illustrations in this article.