The Works of Edgar Allan Poe
Commemorative Edition
Volume 10, Essays , Criticism , Miscellany
Published by Funk & Wagnalls Company
New York and London
1904
Hardcover.
Cloth binding.
Top page edge gilt.
4" x 6"
204 pages.
Over 120 years old.
A volume from the "Commemorative Edition" of Poe's works.
This volume contains essays, etc., by Poe, including:
1. The Rationale of Verse
An essay on writing verse.
2. Old English Poetry
Poe analyzes the characteristics, structure, and artistic merits of early English verse, often comparing it to modern forms.
3. Maelzels's Chess Player
Poe's detailed analysis of the fraudulent chess playing automaton " The Turk ," which toured Europe and America. Poe meticulously deconstructs the machine's performance, using deductive reasoning to prove that a hidden human operator, not a true machine, was controlling the automaton - an 1836 essay on the boundaries between human and artificial intelligence .
4. How to Write a Blackwood Article
This is a companion piece to the story which follows ("A Predicament"); both are narrated by " Psyche Zenobia " in the first person. It serves as a satirical "how-to" on how to write horror stories , usually involving a close brush with death.
The editor in the story tells Zenobia to kill herself and record the how it feels - which sets the stage for "A Predicament."
5. A Predicament
This is a darkly humorous and surreal short story by Edgar Allan Poe ( originally titled " The Scythe of Time "), which parodies Gothic tales. It follows the female narrator, Signora Psyche Zenobia, who gets her head trapped and decapitated by the minute hand of a giant cathedral clock while trying to get a better view of the city of Edina.
" A Predicament " is known for its absurd and macabre humor, as the narrator calmly narrates her own dismemberment and questions her identity as her head and body continue to exist...separately.
6. Diddling , considered as one of the Exact Sciences
( the "diddling" in Poe's essay refers to the art of petty swindling , confidence tricks , and small-scale deception. )
Poe presents humorous examples of scammers manipulating others for small financial gains. The art of diddling is defined by careful attention to small details, perseverance, ingenuity, audacity, nonchalance, originality, impertinence ...and a grin.
Poe describes several "neat" tricks, such as posing as a credible person to acquire items on credit, exploiting trust, and bold ways to defraud tavern keepers or shopkeepers.
7. The Literary Life of Thingum Bob , Esq.
Poe's satirical short story that mocks the pretentious literary world of his time, through the mock-autobiography of its pompous narrator, Thingum Bob, who details his absurd rise to fame.
It's a humorous and witty critique of the magazine and publishing culture which Poe himself was deeply involved in.
8. The Elk
A short travel essay by Poe describing a hike along Wissahickon Creek near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , where he praises the area's natural beauty ...but is ultimately disappointed to find that a "wild" elk he encounters is actually a domesticated pet.
-------
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic, best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre.
Poe is widely regarded as one of the central figures of Romanticism and Gothic fiction in the United States, and of early American literature. He is also credited with contributing significantly to the emergence of science fiction , and is generally considered to be the inventor of the detective fiction genre.
---------
Condition.
Binding wear.
( see the photos )
The hinges are tight.
No writing.
No markings.
Thin old dampstain at the upper margin of pages at the front of the book.
The pages are otherwise in good condition.
Carefully packed for shipment to the buyer.