Reviews

The Complete Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by J. H. Whitty

devilmann69's review against another edition

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5.0

From the introduction written by Jay Parini:
"For Edgar Allan Poe, the art of poetry was ultimately about the contemplation of ideal beauty. Though obsessed with death, and with states of unreality and nightmare, he looked for moments of transcendence, believing that visionary insights were attainable only “in brief and indeterminate glimpses.” In his best poems, he creates a rhythmical language in which a melodious chiming on vowel sounds and consonants works to impress his lines deep in the reader’s memory, giving them the literary equivalent of eternal life. As T. S. Eliot once said, “Only after you find that a poem by Poe goes on throbbing in your head,” he wrote, “do you begin to suspect that perhaps you will never forget it.”"

rosekk's review against another edition

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5.0

I did not love every poem, but for every one that I was ambivalent about, there was another that I loved, so it worked out rather well in the end.

anzuk's review against another edition

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4.0

Ok, so I guess I'm taking a break from this. I managed to read half of it, and I guess I'll resume it in a year or so, when the mood returns. I can only say that I really liked what I've read so far. Poe is pretty fucked up in the head and I admire him for that.

loyalrobyn's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense medium-paced

4.25

i_and_my_annabel_lee's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense

5.0

odettegray's review against another edition

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5.0

"But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we—
Of many far wiser than we—
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful ANNABELLEE.
For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful ANNABEL LEE;
And the stars never rise but I see the bright eyes
Of the beautiful ANNABEL LEE;

And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride,
In her sepulchre there by the sea—
In her tomb by the side of the sea."

I don't think I'll ever read a poem quite so beautiful as Annabel lee

cindyhelene's review against another edition

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5.0

I should probably give this 4 stars, as there were a few stories that I really didn't care for, but whatever, I'm a Poe fangirl, it's fine.
(Yes I know he married his 13 year old cousin, please don't remind me.)

beirutibombshell's review against another edition

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5.0

Great October poetry. I have some new favorites too :)

mightymel_reads's review against another edition

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5.0

I read my sister's copy, which was a gift to her from my grandfather before he died. My grandpa used to recite poetry by heart. He died over 10 years ago so I don't remember all the poems he would recite, however, while reading this I realized there were a few by Poe that he knew. One I remember was Annabel Lee.

Some of the longer poems I was not as into, but The Raven I read every day for a week straight because it's just so heart-rending. I remember reading it in middle school, but it hits differently as an adult after experiencing loss of a loved one and understanding that once you lose someone, grief never leaves you. I will certainly reread many of these poems for years to come.

darth_aubs's review against another edition

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3.0

I'm not sure I'm one for poetry collections. I find that after a while, they all start to blend together and I lose the enjoyment of the ones that truly stood out. I think from now on if I read a volume of poetry, I'll make it a collection from various authors.