University of Virginia Library

These tales are eminently distinguished by a wild, vigorous, and
poetical imagination, a rich style, a fertile invention, and varied and
curious learning... Of singular force and beauty.

I am much pleased with a tale called “The House of Usher,” and
should think that a collection of tales, equally well written, could not
fail of being favorably received... Its graphic effect
is powerful.

I have read a little tale called “William Wilson” with much
pleasure. It is managed in a highly picturesque style, and the singular
and mysterious interest is ably sustained throughout. I repeat
what I have said of a previous production of this author; that I cannot
but think that a series of articles of like style and merit would be
extremely well received by the public.

In “Ligeia,” by Mr. Poe, there is a fine march of description,
which has a touch of the D'Israeli quality.

He puts us in mind of no less a writer than Shelley.

“Bon-Bon,” by Mr. Poe, is equal to anything Theodore Hook ever
wrote.

Mr. Poe's “M.S. found in a bottle” is one of the most singularly
ingenious and imaginative things I ever remember to have read.
Discovery is there analyzed and spiritualized in a strain of allegory
which need not fear comparison with Coleridge's “Ancient Mariner.”

—That powerful pen, whose versatile and brilliant creations I
have so often admired.

Mr. Poe possesses an extraordinary faculty. He paints the palpable
obscure with strange power, throwing over his pictures a sombre
gloom which is appalling. The images are dim, but distinct; shadowy
but well-defined. The outline indeed is all we see; but there
they stand, shrouded in darkness, and fright us with the mystery
which defies farther scrutiny... His genius, as well as private
history, puts us in mind of that of Coleridge.

There can be but one opinion in regard to the force and beauty of
his style... He discovers a superior capacity and a highly
cultivated taste... A gentleman of fine endowments, possessing
a taste classical and refined, an imagination affluent and
splendid, and withal a singular capacity for minute and mathematical
detail... We always predicted that he would reach a high
grade in American literature... “Morella” will unquestionably
prove that Mr. Poe has great powers of imagination,
and a command of language never surpassed. We doubt if anything
in the same style can be cited which contains more terrific beauty
than this tale.

Mr. Poe is decidedly the best of all our young writers—I don't
know but that I may say, of all our old ones.