Text: Anonymous, “[Review of Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque],” Boston Morning Post (Boston, MA), vol. XVI, no. 143, December 1, 1839, p. 1, col. 6

[page 1, col. 6, continued:]

Tales of The Grotesque and Arabesque. By Edgar A. Poe. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 243, 228. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard. Boston: Weeks, Jordan & Co. — The contents of these volumes belong to that description of writing of which it is said neither gods nor men approve. A greater amount of trash, within the same compass it would be difficult to find. The tales which he calls grotesque, are sufficiently so, but must give place to those which are impertinently styled arabesque. There is a great affectation of learning throughout them all, and the writer has evidently studied the Dictionary of Quotations with no inconsiderable success. Yet this raw pedant, “this half-baked cake of oatmeal dough,” makes Bulwer and Christopher North the objects of his satire! His satire! A penny trumpet against a full-toned bugle — a jew's-harp against that of Carolan.