Book Review: Mrs Poe by Lynn Cullen

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Simon and Schuster, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it 
 

Continuing on our Halloween theme, I have the perfect book for those who love to associate Halloween and the infamous tale of the Raven, from Edgar Allen Poe.

For those that have read up on Poe, his life is just as mysterious and as odd as his stories! Did you know an unknown person mysterious man in black for decades left three roses and an unfinished bottle of Martell cognac at Poe’s grave on his birthday (January 19th)? They mystery deepened in 2009, when the visits ceased, leading some to wonder of the mysterious person had died. The Poe Toaster has never been named, another item to add to Poe's legend!

And speaking of his legend....

Synopsis: 

1845: New York City is a sprawling warren of gaslit streets and crowded avenues, bustling with new immigrants and old money, optimism and opportunity, poverty and crime. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” is all the rage—the success of which a struggling poet like Frances Osgood can only dream. As a mother trying to support two young children after her husband’s cruel betrayal, Frances jumps at the chance to meet the illustrious Mr. Poe at a small literary gathering, if only to help her fledgling career. Although not a great fan of Poe’s writing, she is nonetheless overwhelmed by his magnetic presence— and the surprising revelation that he admires her work. 

What follows is a flirtation, then a seduction, then an illicit affair . . . and with each clandestine encounter, Frances finds herself falling slowly and inexorably under the spell of her mysterious, complicated lover. But when Edgar’s frail wife Virginia insists on befriending Frances as well, the relationship becomes as dark and twisted as one of Poe’s tales. And like those gothic heroines whose fates are forever sealed, Frances begins to fear that deceiving Mrs. Poe may be as impossible as cheating death itself. . . -

Read an excerpt! 

Review: 

The truth about Poe's life is at once mysterious, amazing, and confusing- yes he DID marry his 13 yr old cousin- and was long thought to have had multiple children out of wedlock before (and possibly after) his marriage (could one of them, or their child be the aforementioned Poe Toaster? Another mystery!). The author takes the whips of the rumor of his affair with Frances Osgood, a known poet and children's author (Puss n Boots! ) and weaves a fascinating tale of flirtration, chance, chemistry and an intellectual bond, to give the readers a haunting love triangle, with more twists and turns than can be imagined in such a situation, She does a great job of bringing the Victorian and post-Victorian eras to life, and showing how the times affected both the tale and the characters' actions.

If you have been enamored with Poe (I have been since I read a collection of his works as a pre-teen), then you will want to read this book to get a feel for Poe and his life. If you are knew to Poe (horrors!), then this book while inspire you to learn more about the man!

A key piece in the book is how Pow came to despise The Raven as it overshadowed all his other works, which he felt were far better than it

About the Author:

Lynn Cullen grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is the author of Reign of Madness, a 2011 Best of the South selection by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and 2012 Townsend Prize finalist, and The Creation of Eve, named among the best fiction books of 2010 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and an Indie Next selection. She is also the author of numerous award-winning books for children, including the young adult novel I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter, which was a 2007 Barnes & Noble “Discover Great New Writers” selection and an ALA Best Book of 2008. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, their dog, and two unscrupulous cats. Read her website for more!

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