The Last Lecture

At 8:00 p.m. on September 24, 1849, Edgar Poe presented his last lecture on "The Poetic Principle." Held at the Exchange Hotel in Richmond, Poe's lecture discussed his poetic theory, particularly that a poem should be written merely for the sake of being a poem, not as instruction. Poetry is art, he implies, and therefore should focus on pure beauty and aesthetics. He also says that a poem should be short, able to be read in a single sitting. He gave specific examples of poets he thought were good, and others he thought were bad.

Poe had given lectures on the topic before, including one in Richmond. In fact, the local newspaper that day, Daily Republican, noted, "Although it is a repetition, we are sure that few, if any, who attended his first lecture, would be unwilling to hear it over again, and those who were not present on that occasion, will deprive themselves of a delightful entertainment by failing to attend to-night." One of the audience members was Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton, who supposedly had a prime seat in the front row. 57 years later, the (usually unreliable source) Susan Archer Talley wrote that Rosalie Poe was there too.

We don't know for sure what was said in the original lectures. His first versions of it were lost or stolen and had to be rewritten. The manuscript from his September lecture in Richmond, however, apparently survived and was found in Poe's trunk after his death. According to the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore, poet/editor Bayard Taylor wanted to sell this manuscript to George Graham for the benefit of Maria Clemm. Instead, it was purchased by John Sartain, who published it in his Union Magazine in October 1850. Taylor, working on behalf of Rufus Griswold, likely never turned the money over to Mrs. Clemm.

From that published version of the lecture, we see that Poe praises William Cullen Bryant ("The intense melancholy which seems to well up, perforce, to the surface of all the poet's cheerful sayings about his grave, we find thrilling us to the soul — while there is the truest poetic elevation in the thrill. The impression left is one of a pleasurable sadness.") as well as Edward Coote Pinkney, Lord Byron, and Lord Tennyson.

It was Poe's last public appearance before he vanished.

Hawthorne writes to Poe

From Salem, Massachusetts, the now well-known American author Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote to Edgar Poe about his book, Mosses from an Old Manse. In the letter, dated June 17, 1846, Hawthorne asked Poe if his publishers had already sent him a copy to review. He also noted his respect for Poe as a critic. As he wrote:

"I have read your occasional notices of my productions with great interest — not so much because your judgment was, upon the whole, favorable, as because it seemed to be given in earnest. I care for nothing but the truth, in regard to my writings, than a sugared falsehood."

"Sugared falsehoods" were something Poe tended to avoid by this time, certainly known as a "Tomahawk Man" since well before Hawthorne's letter was written.* Today, Poe is occasionally dismissed as a critic (in part for his caustic nature) but, clearly, at least Hawthorne respects him for this line of work.

Nevertheless, Hawthorne makes it clear that he prefers Poe as a fiction writer more than as a reviewer. "I admire you rather as a writer of Tales, than as a critic upon them," he wrote. "I might often — and often do — dissent from your opinions, in the latter capacity, but could never fail to recognize your force and originality, in the former." In 2009, that should ring like a pretty decent endorsement from a heavy hitter in American writing.

Poe did get his review copy of Mosses from an Old Manse and wrote a lengthy critique, which was published in Godey's Lady's Book in November 1847. He praised the writing, but worried about how New England culture was influencing the book's author. He warned Hawthorne particularly of the Transcendentalists. In his review, Poe wrote: "Let him mend his pen, get a bottle of visible ink, come out from the Old Manse, cut Mr. [Bronson] Alcott, [and] hang (if possible), the editor of 'The Dial.'" Interesting words, but Poe might not have realized that not only was The Dial already canceled, but also that Hawthorne was already out of the Old Manse. By this time, he was living once again in Salem while famously holding a government-appointed job at the custom house.

This letter from Hawthorne and Poe's review of Mosses from an Old Manse will both play a salient role in my upcoming lecture, Dark Romantics: Hawthorne and Poe. The talk is kindly hosted by The Wayside, Hawthorne's former home, today part of Minuteman National Park in Concord, Massachusetts. We will celebrate both Poe's bicentennial year and Hawthorne's birthday (a couple days off). The talk is free and takes place on the side lawn of The Wayside on July 2 at 6:30 p.m. The staff there is worried that neither Hawthorne nor Poe will draw a large crowd — let's prove them wrong!

*A recent discussion begs the question: When is the earliest reference to Poe and his "tomahawk"? We found as early as 1840, thanks to Poe's friend Thomas Holley Chivers.

Upcoming lectures

Looking for some of Rob's famous Poe-expertise outside the electronic/digital realm? Here are some "real world" appearances and lectures coming up:


"Poe and the Maritime Literary Tradition"
Wednesday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m.
160 Derby Street, Salem, Massachusetts
Part of a maritime lecture series by the schooner Fame and Salem Maritime National Park

Join Rob Velella, creator of the Edgar Allan Poe Bicentennial Desk Calendar, to discuss why sea adventures were popular, how Poe was inspired to write several of his own, Poe's personal experience of the sea, and how one particularly famous sailor who has a link to Salem's Friendship may have a connection to Poe`s mysterious (and as yet unsolved) death in 1849.


"A War of the Words: Poe's Battle With Longfellow"
Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. (I'll confirm the time later)
Cambridge Center for Adult Education, Brattle Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts

In the 1840s, at the height of his literary fame, Edgar Allan Poe publicly accused Henry Wadsworth Longfellow of being a weak poetic imitator. Poe's infamous conflict with the Brattle Street poet drew the attention of other writers with deep connections to Cambridge. Was Poe right or was he just jealous? This discussion will reexamine the various theories behind Poe's accusations and determine his true motivation.


"Edgar A. Poe's Friends and Enemies: A Walk Among the Dead"
Sunday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m.
Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Nothing goes together better than cemeteries and Edgar Allan Poe. Meet many of his interred literary contemporaries at Mount Auburn. As a critic, Poe had much to say about many of these figures, both well-known and lesser-known. Some were friends, and some were enemies.


"Poe and Publishing"
Tuesday, May 12 at 6:00 p.m. (I'll confirm the time later)
Boston Public Library (room TBD)
Sponsored by the Ticknor Society

In addition to his poetry and fiction, Poe was also an editor and magazine proprietor at a time when the publishing industry was changing and technology was rapidly improving. This lecture will discuss Poe's knowledge of the industry, his role in it, and how it changed around him - though, ultimately, he was never able to profit significantly from it.

More to come, I hope!

Sorry for the delay

Sorry for the silence. I've been lecturing on "Poe's Longfellow War" to great success! My next lecture isn't scheduled until March but it will shift gears into a different topic. More on that as the date approaches.

The Poe Calendar is now for sale on Craig's List as well. eBay sales have slowed down a bit (people don't think of Poe as a holiday gift, perhaps?) but we're still chugging along. We're just over 30 days away from the big day!

Starting January 1, this blog will highlight different anniversaries and stories in the life and times of Poe (just like the calendar, as a matter of fact). Keep checking back!

It's December!

It's December, which means we are getting close to the big Poe bicentennial in January. It also means we're close to the beginning of the Poe Calendar's starting day on January 1st. Once the year begins, I'll post about different anniversaries and events in the life and times of Poe (and a few of his acquaintances), including some that were cut from the calendar because of space issues, etc.

In the meantime, I'm hoping to expand my lecture tour in December but the well seems to have dried up. If there are any suggestions out there, let me know. As it is, it looks like my last lecture of the year (on Poe's "Longfellow War") will be at Bowdoin College on Tuesday, December 9 (rescheduled from last week).

I'm thinking there might be some libraries or historical societies that could squeeze me in for mid-December (despite the short notice) or early January; advice welcome.

If you haven't purchased your calendar yet, make sure to do it soon! Remember you can purchase on eBay using the very secure PayPal, or feel free to email me at robvelella@yahoo.com to buy from me directly.

Holiday gift / lectures

Just a reminder that the calendar is up for sale on eBay, available using PayPal. Now that so many people are thinking about a certain holiday that comes up at the end of the year, I'll recommend that the Poe Bicentennial Calendar makes a great holiday gift, especially at this price.

By the way, the lecture on Poe's Longfellow War in Philadelphia went well (any many calendars sold). Special thanks to all my old friends out there who attended and especially to those who helped set it up. I'll be repeating my lecture at Bowdoin College (alma mater of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) in Brunswick, Maine on December 2. I'll also be giving a lecture, most likely on the same topic, on December 4 in Lowell, Massachusetts.

I hope Thanksgiving treated everyone well!

Poe calendar in Philadelphia!

Sorry for the late notice... but, if you're in Philadelphia this weekend, come support the Poe calendar at the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site! I'm promoting the calendar there (7th and Spring Garden St) as well as lecturing on the Poe-Longfellow War, what I'm calling "The War of the Words." I found out some interesting stuff about this literary battle after being able to view it from both the Edgar Allan Poe angle and the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow angle. Putting the two together definitely made the story a bit more expansive. I'll be presenting my own conclusion as well, answering the question, "Was Poe right?" It's a phenomenal story, and even I was surprised by what I found.

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
7th and Spring Garden St.
Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, November 22 @ 2:00 p.m.
FREE EVENT!
(Calendars will also be on sale)