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Edgar Allan Poe: Timeless Horror, Great Reading

by Silvia Meave*

The death as a mysterious and frightening factor of beauty and love is the trigger of emotions that have captured for more than a century and a half, the interest of literature readers in the timeless work of the great American writer Edgar Allan Poe, creator of the modern detective story and an "innovator in the science fiction genre" according to the Poe Museum website. That's because he's my favorite author and professional inspiration as a fiction writer and determined journalist: He always worked to get his own magazine.

Poe, who was born on January 19, 1809 in Baltimore, Massachusetts, and died at 40 years old on October 7, 1849, was one of the first American writers of short stories and is one of the most important writers of the dark romanticism sub-genre. Edgar Allan Poe outlines the everlasting decay of the human essence in every story or poem. Reality also melts down before the terrific psychology of the author's characters.

The disturbing dark atmosphere in which Poe's stories take place is the gateway to an unknown universe that usually challenges the readers' deepest fears as well as their fascination for evil mystery.

Photo by Unknown; most likely George C. Gilchrest, Samuel P. Howes, James M. Pearson, or Andrew J. Simpson, all of Lowell, MA - http://www.daguerre.org/images/2008sympos/consignor4a-medium.jpg and http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=39406, Public Domain, Link

Edgar Allan Poe's work is adrenaline in its purest and most primitive expression. Gary B. Wack, Academic Researcher of the English and Foreign Languages Department at the Centenary College of New Jersey reviewed some Edgar Allan Poe's stories, including The Pit and the Pendulum, from the perspective of Jungian psychology.

Mr. Wack reveals in his work Poe's mastery to manage psychological terror and duress in his literary work that are transferred from the mind of the story's characters to the reader's unconscious and emotions. This is why the horror stories of Edgar Allan Poe translated to all languages never get outdated and keep attracting thousands of readers around the world.

The influence of Edgar Allan Poe in contemporary culture extends to the theater, movies, television and even bloggers in recent times, not only because there have been more than 50 film adaptations of Poe's literary work, but also because his writing style is a basic reference for mystery, horror and suspense.

The Masque of the Red Death, The Fall of the House of Usher and The Murders in the Rue Morgue are three classic masterpieces of Edgar Allan Poe's literary work. Some say they have some kind of autobiographical stories because Poe's life was surrounded by ill-fated events since childhood. Poe's work was not appreciated in its true dimension while he was alive, but today is a master of world literature. ♦

This story was originally published in the ceased Yahoo! Voices Contributor Network.

* Silvia Meave was contributor at the ceased Yahoo! Voices. She's currently an Absintha's author and CEO/Editor-in-Chief for TribuAmericas Media Contents & Entertainment.
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