The Man of the Crowd: Edgar Allan Poe and the City

Edgar Allan Poe moved frequently throughout his life in search of literary success and to support his family. Scott Peeples explores how each city he lived in left an enduring mark on his writings, reflecting his experiences with urban slavery, violence, and poverty. The book challenges the notion of Poe as an isolated artist and reveals him as a man shaped by his urban surroundings, longing for a stable home.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 25 April 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Edgar Allan Poe ({PHONE}) was a writer who moved frequently throughout his life, driven by a desire for literary success and the need to support his family. He sought work in American magazines, living in the cities that produced them. Scott Peeples explores Poe's rootless life in these cities, examining how each place left its mark on the writer and his craft.

Poe wrote short stories, poems, journalism, and editorials with urban readers in mind. He witnessed urban slavery firsthand, living and working near slave jails and auction houses in Richmond and among enslaved workers in Baltimore. In Philadelphia, he saw a growing city struggling to control its violent tendencies. At a time when suburbs were beginning to offer an alternative to crowded city living, he attempted to live cheaply on the then-rural Upper West Side of Manhattan and later in what is now the Bronx.

Poe's urban mysteries and claustrophobic tales of troubled minds and abused bodies reflect his experiences living among soldiers, slaves, and immigrants in American cities. The Man of the Crowd, by Michelle Van Parys, challenges the popular notion of Poe as an isolated artist living in a world of his own imagination, detached from his physical surroundings. The book reveals a Poe who was shaped by the cities he lived in, longing for a stable home.

Poe's life was marked by a series of moves, each leaving its imprint on his work. He moved from Richmond to Baltimore, then to Philadelphia, and finally to New York City. Each city had its own unique characteristics and challenges, which influenced his writing.

In Baltimore, Poe lived near slave jails and auction houses, which provided him with a wealth of material for his stories. He witnessed the brutal treatment of slaves and the auctioning off of their bodies, which deeply affected him. This experience is reflected in his works, such as "The Black Cat" and "The Tell-Tale Heart."

In Philadelphia, Poe saw the growth and development of a city struggling to contain its own violent tendencies. He wrote about the city's crime and poverty, as well as its political corruption and social unrest. His stories, such as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Fall of the House of Usher," are set in Philadelphia and reflect the city's dark and dangerous atmosphere.

In New York City, Poe lived in various neighborhoods, including the Upper West Side
Side and the Bronx. He attempted to live cheaply on the Upper West Side, but his financial struggles led him to move to the Bronx. In the Bronx, he lived among immigrants and working-class people, which influenced his portrayal of the city's poor and marginalized residents in his works, such as "The Balloon Hoax" and "The Fall of the House of Usher."

Poe's urban experiences also shaped his outlook on life. He was a man who struggled with poverty and financial insecurity, and his writing often reflects his own struggles and fears. He was a social critic who believed that cities were places of chaos and disorder, filled with violence and poverty. He wrote about the dangers of urbanization and the need for reform, advocating for better housing, education, and healthcare for the poor and marginalized.

In conclusion, Edgar Allan Poe's life was shaped by the cities he lived in. His experiences living among soldiers, slaves, and immigrants in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City influenced his writing and his outlook on life. The Man of the Crowd provides a detailed account of Poe's urban experiences, challenging the popular notion of Poe as an isolated artist and revealing him as a man whose career and outlook were shaped by the cities where he lived.

Weight: 292g
Dimension: 130 x 210 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691247960