Poe: Man, Myth, or Monster Opens July 20 at the Library of Virginia

~ Exhibition Explores Master of Macabre, Acclaimed Poet, and Well-known
Literary Critic~

Contact:            Janice M. Hathcock
For Immediate Release

                        804-692-3592

                        [log in to unmask]

(Richmond, Virginia)-To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan
Poe's birth, the Library of Virginia, in partnership with the Poe
Museum, is presenting a major exhibition exploring the myths and legends
surrounding Edgar Allan Poe, America's first internationally renowned
author. Poe: Man, Myth, or Monster covers the many facets of Poe's life.
He was born in Boston in 1809 but identified himself as a Virginian. 

 

Who is Edgar Allan Poe?  He has his own action figure and comic book. He
has appeared in film, television, and other people's novels. He is
America's first internationally influential author, the inventor of the
modern detective story, a contributor to the genre of science fiction,
author of some of the most thoughtful and piercing literary criticism
ever written, a lyric poet, an amateur scientist, and inventor of nearly
1,000 new words. (Think tintinnabulation.) Poe's influence on other
authors is incalculable.

 

But much of what we think we know about Poe is not necessarily accurate.
During his lifetime Poe often was less than truthful about his life. A
University of Virginia dropout, he wrote an autobiography claiming to
have graduated from the school. His account also had him traveling to
Europe to fight in the Greek Wars of Independence and being imprisoned
in Saint Petersburg. Subsequent biographers also were less than factual,
erring either on the side of Poe the drunken madman or Poe the refined,
ever-proper gentleman.

 

The exhibition includes three interactive stations: Poe's Words
(readings from Poe), Poe in Film (the 1928 silent film The Fall of the
House of Usher), and Fact or Fiction (visitors get to test their
knowledge of Poe).

 

Among the more 100 (digital and original items) in the exhibition are:

A copy of Tamerlane, Poe's first, but not widely distributed, published
book of poetry (1827)

Posters in different languages from commercial films based (however
loosely) on Poe's tales

An Edgar, the annual award given by the Mystery Writers of America,
Illustrations of The Raven by James Carling (1857-1887), original
manuscripts of "Eulalie: a Song," "To Elizabeth," and Poe's
autobiography. Chris Semtner, curator of the exhibition, is the author
of several articles on Edgar Allan Poe and serves as acting director of
the Poe Museum. 

 

Poe: Man, Myth, or Monster runs through December 5, 2009. The exhibition
is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission
is free. Monthly curator-led tours and weekly docent-led tours are
available. Please call 804-692-3592 for tour information.

 

About the Library of Virginia  

The Library of Virginia (www.lva.virginia.gov
<http://www.lva.virginia.gov/> ), located in historic downtown Richmond,
holds the world's most extensive collection of material about the Old
Dominion and has been a steward of the commonwealth's documentary and
printed heritage since 1823. The story of Virginia and Virginians has
been told in many ways since 1607. At the Library of Virginia it is told
through more than 110 million manuscripts and more than 1.8 million
books, serials, bound periodicals, microfilm reels, newspapers and state
and federal documents, each an individual tile in the vast and colorful
mosaic of Virginia's experience.

 


To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html