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.

We must say that we derive no small enjoyment from a delineation
like this. We like to see the evidences of study and thought,
as well as of inspiration, in the design, and of careful and elaborate
handling in the execution, as well as of grand and striking effect in
the tout ensemble. The “Fall of the House of Usher” is what we
denominate a stern and sombre, but at the same time a noble and
imposing picture, such as can be drawn only by a master-hand.
Such things are not produced by your slip-shod amateurs in composition.

“William Wilson,” by Mr. Poe, reminds us of Godwin and
Brockden Brown. The writer is a kindred spirit of theirs in his
style of art. He paints with sombre Rembrandt-like tints, and there
is great force and vigor of conception in whatever he produces.

There is also a sketch of much power and peculiar interest, entitled
“The House of Usher” which cannot fail to attract attention—.
.. a remarkable specimen of a style of writing which possesses
many attractions for those who love to dwell upon the terrible.

Mr. Poe's story of “The House of Usher” would have been considered
a chef d'œvre if it had appeared in the pages of Blackwood.

“Lionizing” by Mr. Poe is an inimitable piece of wit and satire;
and the man must be far gone in a melancholic humor whose risibility
is not moved by this tale.

Mr. Poe's “Hans Phaall” will add much to his reputation as an
imaginative writer. The story is a long one, but will appear short to
the reader, whom it bears along with irresistible interest through a
region of which of all others we know least, but which his fancy has
invested with peculiar charms.

The author of the “Lunar Hoax” is indebted to the “Hans
Phaall” of Mr. Poe for the conception and in a great measure for the
execution of his discoveries.

The “Due de L'Omelette” by Edgar A. Poe, is one of those light,
spirited, and fantastic inventions of which we have had specimens
before in the Messenger, betokening a fertility of imagination and
power of execution, that would, under a sustained effort, produce
creations of an enduring character.

The “Due de L'Omelette” is one of the best things of the kind
we have ever read. Mr. Poe has great powers, and every line tells

in all he writes. He is no spinner of long yarns, but chooses his
subject, whimsically perhaps, but originally, and treats it in a manner
peculiarly his own.

Of the lighter contributions—of the diamonds which sparkle beside
the more sombre gems, commend us, thou spirit of eccentricity, forever
and a day, to “The Duc de L'Omelette,”—the best thing of the
kind we ever have read or ever expect to read.

“The Tale of Jerusalem,” is one of those felicitous hits which are
the forte of Edgar A. Poe.

We seldom meet with more boldness in the development of intellectual
capacity, or more vividness in description than we find in the
productions of Edgar Allan Poe.

—Equally ripe in graphic humor and various lore.

—An uniquely original vein of imagination, and of humorous
delicate satire.

The story of “The Fall of the House of Usher,” from the pen of
Mr. Poe, is very interesting—a well told tale.

Many of these tales are of a very high order of merit, and have
been admired wherever they have been perused by men of mind.
Mr. Poe is no imitator in story-telling. He has a peculiarity of his
own—dealing often in rather wild imaginings, and yet he always
contrives to sustain his plots with so much novelty of incident, that
you must read him out in spite of any sober realities that may occasionally
flit across the mind. And as you read you are ever impressed
with the truth that he has much fancy, great richness of description,
and true poetry for his imagery and colorings.

Poe can throw a chain of enchantment around every scene he
attempts to describe, and one of his peculiarities consists in the perfect
harmony between each locale and the characters introduced. He
has certainly written some of the most popular tales of American
origin.

He is excellent at caricature and satire.

He is one of the very few American writers who blend philosophy
common sense, humor and poetry smoothly together...
He lays his hand upon the wild steeds of his imagination, and they
plunge furiously through storm and tempest, or foam along through
the rattling thunder-cloud; or, at his bidding, they glide swiftly and
noiselessly along the quiet and dreamy lake, or among the whispering
bowers of thought and feeling...There are few writers
in this country—take Neal, Irving, and Willis away, and we would
say none—who can compete successfully in many respects with Poe.
With an acuteness of observation, a vigorous and effective style, and
an independence that defies control, he unites a fervid fancy and a
most beautiful enthusiasm. His is a high destiny.