Heartfelt History
Presents
Chilling American Authors and Their
Spine-Tingling Stories of Yore
Our first chilling American author was born in Boston, Massachusetts just three-and-a-half years before America’s second bout with the British Empire in the War of 1812.
Despite being abandoned by his biological father and orphaned by his mother upon her death just before his third birthday, he would become one of America’s most well-known writers.
His scattered and nomadic existence landed him in multiple locations such as Stoke Newington in London, England at the young age of nine; Baltimore, Maryland; Philadelphia, New York City, Charleston, S.C. and Richmond, Virginia. These almost hopeless wanderings planted the deep, dark roots of his acclaimed gothic writings.
So much has been written about him, but it’s only fitting that Heartfelt History begins our October series with this master of the macabre…
Edgar Allan Poe
“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”
– The Raven – published January, 1845
His brief forty-year life span, mired in turmoil, included financial hardships due to his early propensity to gamble, imbibe and inability to reap substantial and consistent income from his writings. Even with these obstacles, Poe was still able to craft timeless works such as The Raven which he begins with the ever familiar…
“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—”
In his hauntingly evocative poem Annabel Lee, we read a grief-stricken Poe longing for his “maiden… in this kingdom by the sea.”
The poem was an immortalization of his young cousin and wife Virginia Clemm (alleged portrait above) who he cared for as she suffered from consumption (tuberculosis) over a five year period in their Bronx, NY cottage. She would be Edgar’s fourth family member to succumb to the dreaded disease.
Annabel Lee was written two years after the death of Virginia and was published shortly after Edgar’s own mysterious death which took place on
October 7th, 1849.
Photo (below) of Virginia’s bedroom
“And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.”
– Third verse of Annabel Lee; published October, 1849
Poe’s character development of the culpable and the elaboration of the demented, written in the first person, proved to be quite effective. One prime example is his famous short story that parallels his own lamentable life. It’s a tale that he published in 1843 while living in Philadelphia after being exposed to a riveting murder trial where a man was found not guilty “on the grounds of insanity” – one of the first times the argument was used in an American court. (1)
Heartfelt History’s spine-tingling story of the week:
The Black Cat
Throughout the month of October, Heartfelt History invites our readers to listen to audio versions of our featured spine-tingling stories. So sit back, close your eyes and listen to Poe’s classic work – The Black Cat(2)
Click the play button below to start the audio…if you dare…
*Listener discretion is advised
Behind the lurid tales and morbid lyrics of Poe we gain a better understanding of the frailty and insatiable desires of the human condition. Poe’s own constant quest for love, acceptance and answers to life’s tragedies provided the melancholic backdrop for many of his greatest works. His undying writings still fascinate and connect us to this very day.
Sources:
1) National Park Service – https://www.nps.gov/edal/learn/education/upload/Philadelphia-Through-Poe-s-Eyes.pdf
2) Librivox.org recording of The Black Cat written by Edgar Allan Poe
3) Picture of “Poe’s cottage at Fordham with vignettes suggested by his works.” from The Life of Edgar Allan Poe by William F. Gill published in 1877.
4) Other photos in the public domain
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