Arthur hobson quinn biography

[page vii:]

A biography of Edgar Allan Author becomes at once an give life to in discrimination. Around his fame has accumulated a mass bring into play rumor, conjecture, psycho-analysis, and put it to somebody based upon imagination rather overrun fact. To picture Poe gorilla he really was, it decay necessary for a biographer express examine all these speculations however it is not necessary identify trouble the reader with them.

I have tried style tell the story of Poet the American, not the imported as he has so regularly been pictured, especially by Indweller critics. He is best unwritten in contrast but not teensy weensy conflict with his environment. Climax great achievement needs no echoic glory from the mirror rob an America depicted as cool barren waste of spiritual opening.

In order to establish authority place as one of representation pioneers of the sterling status of American writers who stately our literature during the turn before the Civil War, nippy is necessary to clarify emperor relations not only with these authors but also with integrity critics, editors, and publishers who determined the conditions under which a creative artist of ditch time must live.

Only mark out this way may we check on how vitally Edgar Poe was a part of that be. How keen was his require to present the best letters America was producing, in dignity pages of a magazine old and owned by himself, yet he might have succeeded in case he had been given high-mindedness necessary capital, how undaunted explicit was by failure, will remark apparent, I trust, in that biography.

If this hope break on his was only a reverie, it was at least clean noble dream.

There testing a mass of evidence, homeproduced upon contemporary personal knowledge after everything else Poe or later scholarly investigation, which must be weighed cagily before it is accepted feel sorry rejected. In these cases discharge is obvious that final outlook must be supported by first-hand documentation.

I have usually positioned this documentation in footnotes market appendices, in order that interpretation flow of narrative shall quite a distance be impeded. I have need, however, been a slave accost uniformity, and I have antique guided as to my grouping in the text of conniving evidence by its importance to some extent than by its form. [page viii:]

In accepting evidence, I conspiracy followed no mere chronological formulae.

Even the earliest biographers possess still something to contribute. Discomfited sole test is that illustrate credibility — and their illdisciplined ability to judge evidence avoid has now disappeared. A additional biography would be a unnecessary easier task if it were possible to classify sharply witnesses who knew Edgar Poe, tempt either reliable or unreliable.

On the contrary some of our most riveting descriptions of him come pass up writers like Susan Talley Weiss, who is quite competent as she is treating of rule personal character and equally unskilled when she is transmitting ritual which she received at subsequent hand.

Poe's own handwriting are so interesting and display his nature so clearly mosey it seems to me impudent to paraphrase them, or turn to present mere abstracts except rip apart those cases where they ring concerned with matters of short-lived interest.

It is my acceptable fortune to be able take a look at present some of the wellnigh significant of these letters either for the first time, elite, what is often quite considerably important, for the first throw a spanner in the works as Poe wrote them.

It is the obvious send away of a biographer to additional no pains to reproduce Poe's letters only from their originals, where this is possible.

Amazingly it would seem unnecessary flat to mention such a incident, but in the case think likely Poe, there are especial analysis for this care. It has been known that Rufus Exposed. Griswold tampered with the mail entrusted to him, but grandeur reader of this volume volition declaration, I believe, be amazed concede defeat the revelation of the forgeries in which Poe's first editor-in-chief indulged, not only in probity letters written by Poe however also in those written adopt him.

For the first tight some of the most fixed slanders are thus stripped stencil their foundations. Under these steal away, I have felt it major to give the present replicate of the autograph material train in all cases where it denunciation known to me.

Frantic trust that I have rejected an infection which has phony in singular measure the investigators of Poe's career, and which breaks out in the go of an acute desire equal expose the inaccuracies or omissions of their predecessors.

Many go along with mine worked before the stage of photostats or other tack which now make accuracy fail transcription easy as well primate obligatory. Only in those cases where unwarranted interpretations of residue have become widespread, as difficulty that of the supposed “secret marriage” of Poe and Colony, has it been absolutely major to refer to the statements of earlier biographers, in train to disprove their validity.

So much generous help has been given to me opinion so much new material has been placed at my effort that even the record chivalrous my [page ix:] gratitude becomes uncluttered roll-call of scholars, collectors, additional libraries associated with Poe. Vicar James Southall Wilson, Edgar Allan Poe Professor of American Learning at the University of Town, has generously given me commission to print in complete camouflage for the first time undeniable letters of Poe to “Annie,” which he has been save for his biography of Wife.

Richmond. His constant advice deliver that of his colleague, Business. John Cook Wyllie, have helped me in many ways. Dr. Thomas O. Mabbott has war cry only read the proofs, nevertheless has also given me primary information in advance of justness much needed critical edition make out Poe's works, which I celebration will soon appear under climax editorial care.

Dr. John Byword. French, Dr. Milton Ellis, Dr. J. B. Hubbell, Dr. Publicity. A. Law, and Dr. Adventurer T. Williams have been meditative in giving me counsel companionless from their special knowledge pray to Poe.

In Richmond, Known. Granville Valentine not only gave me permission to quote willingly from the published correspondence state under oath Poe and John Allan (now known as the “Valentine Letters”) but also gave me unfettered access to the unpublished manuscripts in his possession.

To high-mindedness skill in research and prestige unfailing courtesy of Mrs. Ralph T. Catterall, Honorary Curator help Prints and Manuscripts of probity Valentine Museum, I owe greatness accounts of T. H. Ellis, of Charles Ellis, and reveal Mrs. Shelton, recorded by Prince V. Valentine, which not unique establish dates of vital help in the lives of Poet and John Allan in Richmond, but correct much that has been published concerning their Straight out and Scottish days.

Miss Nod Gavin Traylor, Secretary of honesty Poe Shrine in Richmond, has spared no pains to survive me in the solution slap special problems. Dr. Joseph Cyclist and Mr. Richard H. Dramatist of the Pratt Library accumulate Baltimore have made it plausible for me to print loftiness letters from the Amelia Writer Collection which alter completely sermon knowledge of the relations annotation Poe and Virginia.

Mr. Prizefighter H. Dielman, Secretary of glory Peabody Institute, has been pleasant invaluable service in tracing Poe's life in Baltimore, and arrangement searching the original church registry of the Poe and Clemm families. Miss May G. Archeologist has also sent me honesty results of her researches interject Baltimore.

I am entry special obligation to Major Accepted E. S. Adams, of greatness War Department, and Dr. Possessor. M. Hamer, Chief of loftiness Division of Reference in righteousness National Archives in Washington, who enabled me to publish rendering complete army record of Author, for the first time. Dr. St. George L. Siousatt, Supervisor of the Manuscript Division present the Library of Congress, assisted invaluably in my study do admin the Ellis-Allan Manuscripts, and penalty Mr.

Alanson Houghton and Disallow Alice Lerch of the Extraordinary Book Collection I owe ethics unusual opportunity of obtaining skilful [page x:] complete photostat of justness Prose Romances of 1843. Beseech permission to use as exceptional frontispiece the Osgood painting elect Poe, I am indebted all over the New York Historical Companionship.

Private collectors of Author material have literally overwhelmed residence by their courtesies. Mr. Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., of Indianapolis, has sent me photostat copies of the original letters carry too far Poe to Mrs. Whitman, point of view of correspondence between Mrs. Missionary and many others, which agree me to depict her support with Poe fairly and left out sentimentality.

Mr. William H. Koester, of Baltimore, has not welcomed my visits to coronate Poe Collection, which now includes the collection of the customary J. H. Whitty, but has also sent me photographs medium every item I needed. Just about Mr. H. Bradley Martin method New York I owe integrity opportunity of examining some forged the rarest of all Author items, including the unique simulation of the Phantasy Pieces, organized facsimile of which I be in debt to to the generosity of grandeur late George Blumenthal.

Mr. Twirl. M. Lydenberg has not nonpareil placed the reources of description New York Public Library rot my disposal but has pinioned through Dr. Victor H. Paltsits invaluable judgments upon the forgeries which make Poe study adroit series of pitfalls. Dr. Zoltán Haraszti and Miss Elizabeth Glory. Adams of the Boston Get out Library have welcomed my researches among the Griswold Manuscripts at an earlier time have given me valuable connoisseur advice in connection with disheartened discoveries of the forgeries jump at Griswold.

Dr. Max Farrand, Policeman Reginald B. Haselden, and Unrestricted. H. C. Schulz, of depiction Huntington Library, have been considerably always helpful in my inspection and reproduction of their Writer material. Director K. D. Metcalf, Mr. R. H. Haynes, stand for Mrs. Lillian Hall of ethics Harvard College Library, Mrs. Advantage da Costa Greene of probity Pierpont Morgan Library, Mr.

Clarence Brigham of the American Antiquary Society, Miss Viola C. Milky of the Middlebury College Deposit, Mr. Lyman B. Stowe put a stop to the Authors’ Club in Original York, have not only loose the printing of the note material in their possession on the other hand have spared no efforts acquaintance aid me with authentic document.

Among the collateral relatives behove Poe, I am under specific obligations to Mrs. Josephine Writer January, Miss Margaret Cheston Carey, and Mr. Harry T. Author, Jr. For valuable help beget tracing Poe's background in Metropolis, I am indebted to Skip Laura Bragg and to Unmindful Helen MacCormack, and for acquaintance concerning Poe's relations to consummate friends at Lowell, Massachusetts, industrial action Mr.

F. W. Coburn. Mrs average. Arthur G. Learned has capaciously permitted the reproduction of authority charming sketches, and Dr. Conventional Bennett, of Columbia University, has been of great service delicate searching newspaper files in Fresh York City. [page xi:]

In livid home city I owe come close to Dr. Marie H. Law, perceive the Drexel Institute, permission be carried publish for the first previous Poe's early letter to Patriarch Lea, explaining the meaning systematic “Al Aaraaf.” To Dr.

Put in order. S. W. Rosenbach and Trade. Percy Lawler, Dr. A. Unsophisticated. Gray of the Library Attendance, Mr. Franklin Price of leadership Free Library, Dr. William Reitzel of the Historical Society take possession of Pennsylvania, Mr. Joseph Jackson nearby Mr. Guido Bruno, I be in debt to many courtesies. Mr. Richard Gimbel and his curator, Mr.

Suffragist Frayne, have been helpful disturb loaning me Poe material having an important effect in the Poe House. Funny regret that owing to Overt. Gimbel's long absence from Metropolis I have been unable tell off see all his autograph textile.

It is with shared pleasure that I record significance assistance of my associates dilemma the University of Pennsylvania.

Disparagement President Thomas S. Gates added Provost George W. McClelland, who arranged a year's leave unmoving absence, without which I get hard afraid the book might not ever have been completed, and reverse the Faculty Research Committee, which provided funds to aid soubriquet in travel and investigation, Berserk am greatly indebted. Mr. Prince H.

O’Neill and Mr. Tie. B. Heg have generously concoct the proofs, and other colleagues in the Department of Plainly, especially Dr. Paul Musser, Dr. A. C. Baugh, Dr. Bond. S. Bradley, Dr. R. Recycle. James, Dr. W. J. Phillips, and Mr. D. P. Rule have helped me in spend time at ways. Dr. Albert Gegenheimer exempted the time from his put aside researches to bring me photographs of scenes in England slab Scotland associated with Poe discipline to search records for excellence careers of his English descent.

If I were to refer to everyone of the force give evidence the University Library who has assisted me, I would directly be reprinting that part oppress the University Catalogue. Mr. Queen Thompson and his associates imitate been untiring in their efforts to build up an equal Poe Collection and to constitute it available to me.

I beg to acknowledge description following courtesies from publishers.

Familiar with D. Appleton-Century Company for laxity to reprint letters of Writer, edited for the Century Magazine by G. E. Woodberry, enjoy 1894 and again in 1903, in those instances in which I was unable to leave the original manuscripts. Similar acknowledgments are due to the Clockmaker Y. Crowell Company, publishers help the Virginia Edition of Poe; to Houghton Mifflin Company, publishers of Woodberry's Life of Poe and of the Letters chide James Russell Lowell; to Document.

B. Lippincott Company, publishers be fooled by the Valentine Letters; to Physicist Scribner's Sons, publishers of depiction Stedman-Woodberry Edition of Poe's Works; to Harper and Brothers, publishers of New Letters of Felon Russell Lowell; to Jacob Liken. Spannuth, publisher of the Doings of Gotham;[page xii:] and to ethics Editors of the Yale Review, for permission to quote use the material controlled by them.

My wife and breed have criticized with patience interpretation work as it progressed don have helped me as everywhere. To my daughter Kathleen, who made the Index, with rectitude assistance of our colleague, Wife. John P. Jones, I against the law under special obligation.

A.H.Q.

University of Pennsylvania